Wind likely factor in flat seaside stage
Drama expected on way to bunch finish
A salty sea air stage from the Old Port in Marseille across the plains of the Camargue to the heart of "French Florida", La Grande-Motte. The wind should play an essential role in the crossing of protected nature reserve of Camargue - a marshland with pink flamingos and wild horses. The leaders should be on their guard as not only a sea breeze could disturb their ride, but also the dreaded Mistral gale from the North could make for dangerous echelons in the peloton.
The regional capital of Marseille was on the first Tour de France programme in 1903 as the finish line of the 374 km stage that left Lyon. In a much more agreeable format, the Tour's last visit to the Phocean city, in 2007, gave Cédric Vasseur a chance to stand out in the final Tour de France of his career. Today, the flat terrain of the Camargue will surely see a sprinter raise his arms in La Grande-Motte.
Vaughters' views
Some teams will be up front, others will be caught out. It's usually impossible to bring back a split on strong crosswinds if the riders up front are strong and feel the death rattle of a few GC contenders behind.
The winner? Hard to say, but perhaps a sprint/drag race between strong men like Cancellara and Thor Hushovd.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Canyon is offering 30% discount on this e-bike for Amazon Prime Day, plus four more electric bike deals worth checking out
Whether you're looking for an electric bike for road, gravel or urban commuting, these are the best Prime Day deals around -
Ben O'Connor still hoping for Tour de France joy after 'horrible' opening days
Australian limited losses in time trial and feeling 'a little bit better' after crash -
Amazon Prime Day 2025 Live: The best savings for cyclists on day two of the sale
From finding best-ever prices on Garmin Edge computers to snagging stunning savings on brilliant Camelbak bottles, our deals experts have been busy on day two of the sales -
Lotte Kopecky suffers from back pain, Anna van der Breggen 'not super' as SD Worx-Protime miss the GC mark in Giro d'Italia Women
'It’s not what we hoped for, but panicking now or drawing conclusions before the Tour won’t get us anywhere either' says team manager Danny Stam