After an opening road stage in 2008 and a very hilly time trial of more than double the usual prologue distance last year in Monaco, the 97th Tour de France starts with a more traditional prologue TT both in terms of length and profile.
With fewer than a dozen bends, most quite sweeping, and no climbing, this is for time trial specialists. The only significant difficulty will be the wind that sweeps across the Erasmus Bridge. Otherwise, there are plenty of straights that might result in Chris Boardman’s 55.152km/h average from the 1994 prologue being bettered.
Stage profile
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Nibali’s Giro d’Italia aims to take shape as the race does
‘He can aim for the stages, or he can surprise everyone and fight for the GC’ says Trek-Segafredo sport director Andersen -
Teniel Campbell: The hard knocks of life
In loving memory of my uncle Frank -
Evenepoel cautiously confident starting Giro d'Italia after eight-month layoff
Belgian says he has 'no pressure' and Olympic Games are main focus -
Giro Rosa reveal stages and commitment to live television in 2021
24 teams to race across northern Italy as organisers aim to get back to the Women's WorldTour
