Please read the following table in HTML format from a webpage and then answer the question in detail according to the table. Each table cell is defined by a <td> and a </td> tag. Each table row starts with a <tr> and ends with a </tr> tag. 'rowspan=m' and 'colspan=n' represents a cell spaning over 'm' rows and 'n' columns.

Webpage title:
1968 Tour de France
Table title:
Route and stages
Table:
<table id='hittask' contenteditable='False'>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Date </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Course </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Distance </th><th colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Type </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Winner </th></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 1a </th><td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 27 June </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Vittel </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 6.1 km (3.8 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Individual time trial </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Charly Grosskost (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 1b </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 28 June </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Vittel to Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 189 km (117 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Charly Grosskost (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 2 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 29 June </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Arlon (Belgium) to Forest (Belgium) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 210.5 km (130.8 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Erik de Vlaeminck (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 3a </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=2 > 30 June </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Forest (Belgium) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 22 km (14 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Team time trial </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Belgium A </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 3b </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Forest (Belgium) to Roubaix </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 112 km (70 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Walter Godefroot (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 4 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 1 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Roubaix to Rouen </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 238 km (148 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Georges Chappe (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 5a </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=2 > 2 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Rouen to Bagnoles-de-l'Orne </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 165 km (103 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > André Desvages (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 5b </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Bagnoles-de-l'Orne to Dinard </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 154.5 km (96.0 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Jean Dumont (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 6 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 3 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Dinard to Lorient </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 188 km (117 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Aurelio González Puente (ESP) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 7 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 4 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Lorient to Nantes </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 190 km (120 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Franco Bitossi (ITA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 5 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Nantes to Royan </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 223 km (139 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Daniel van Ryckeghem (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 6 July </td><td colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Royan </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Rest day </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 9 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 7 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Royan to Bordeaux </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 137.5 km (85.4 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Walter Godefroot (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 10 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Bordeaux to Bayonne </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 202.5 km (125.8 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Gilbert Bellone (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 11 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 9 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Bayonne to Pau </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 183.5 km (114.0 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Daniel van Ryckeghem (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 12 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 10 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Pau to Saint-Gaudens </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 226.5 km (140.7 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Georges Pintens (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 13 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 11 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Saint-Gaudens to La Seu d'Urgell (Spain) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 208.5 km (129.6 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Herman Van Springel (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 12 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > La Seu d'Urgell to Perpignan </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 231.5 km (143.8 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Jan Janssen (NED) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 13 July </td><td colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Rest day </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 15 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via to Albi </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 250.5 km (155.7 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Roger Pingeon (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 16 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 15 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Albi to Aurillac </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 199 km (124 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Franco Bitossi (ITA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 17 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 16 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Aurillac to Saint-Étienne </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 236.5 km (147.0 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Jean-Pierre Genet (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 18 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 17 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Saint-Étienne to Grenoble </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 235 km (146 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Roger Pingeon (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 19 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 18 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Grenoble to Sallanches </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 200 km (120 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Barry Hoban (GBR) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 20 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 19 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Sallanches to Besançon </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 242.5 km (150.7 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Stage with mountain(s) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Jozef Huysmans (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 21 </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 20 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Besançon to Auxerre </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 242 km (150 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Eric Leman (BEL) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 22a </th><td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=2 > 21 July </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Auxerre to Melun </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 136 km (85 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Plain stage </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Maurice Izier (FRA) </td></tr>
<tr> <th class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 22b </th><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Melun to Paris </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 55.2 km (34.3 mi) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Individual time trial </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Jan Janssen (NED) </td></tr>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 >  </th><td colspan=2 rowspan=1 > Total </td><td class="highlighted"  colspan=4 rowspan=1 > 4,492 km (2,791 mi) </td></tr>
</table>
Question:
How long was the 1968 Tour de France?
Answer:
The 1968 Tour de France took place between 27 June and 21 July, with 22 stages covering a distance of 4,492 km (2,791 mi).