Liège – Seraing- 198km
Highest point: 606m
Category: rolling
Made to measure for Gilbert
This rolling stage touches on the Ardennes but is nothing as tough as the Liège-Bastogne-Liège one-day Classic run through the same terrain. The sprinters should be able to stick in the peloton all day but many of them are likely to struggle to remain in contention on the long and fairly steep drag up to the finish. Rising for more than 2km at an average of 5 percent, it is sure to suit the race’s puncheurs. Chief among them, of course, is Philippe Gilbert, for whom winning here on home ground and taking the yellow jersey would make his year. Gilbert is sure to have an eye on Liquigas-Cannondale powerhouse Peter Sagan.
Sean Yates: "It’s lumpy and in Belgium. Omega-Quick-Step could be in yellow with Tony Martin after the prologue and will want to protect that and bring it to a sprint. That would play into our hands for Cav."
-
Lauren Stephens wins women's UCI five-day Tour de Bloom with Queen stage victory
Alison Jackson gets first stage and GC wins of year in Europe, Riley Amos and Savilia Blunk win Whiskey 50 titles - North American Roundup -
Boucles de l'Aulne: Lewis Askey earns his first pro victory with long sprint in Châteaulin
Benoît Cosnefroy crosses the line ahead Clément Venturini from chasers to complete podium -
'I'm still believing' - Egan Bernal continues to pursue dream of a third Grand Tour victory at Giro d'Italia
Bernal to wear newly designed national champion's jersey in homage to historic Café de Colombia team's 1987 Vuelta a España victory -
'Now I've started enjoying cycling' – Ambitious Tom Pidcock enters first Giro d'Italia with refreshed mindset at Q36.5
'The only unknown is probably the longer climbs, but apart from that, I think I can be quite competitive every day' says Brit
