Arguably the easiest stage on this year’s route, these 153.5km take the race into the heart of Champagne country to finish in the beautiful cathedral city of Reims.
While not as flat as previous stages, there are no significant lumps and it’s a relatively short distance. That means that there’s barely time for any breakaway riders to build a useful advantage before the sprinters’ teams will gather to chase them down.
A possible complicating factor is the wind on Champagne’s exposed plains, but it would have to be some breeze to trouble the peloton enough to lead to a split. Nevertheless, if it is windy you can expect the riders to be nervous. Ultimately, that’s likely to mean that crashes are a bigger threat to the favourites than the formation of echelons.
Stage profile
-
Who could be the Isaac del Toro of this year's Giro d'Italia? There's one GC frontrunner, but there's plenty of chances for surprises too – Analysis
Behind Jonas Vingegaard, the wide open GC could see some unexpected riders in the battle for pink this May -
'You never know if you don't try' - Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney unfazed after headwind scuppers attacks into A Coruña at the Vuelta Femenina
General classification not the only goal for Polish star in Spanish stage race -
La Vuelta Femenina GC standings – Who is leading the race after stage 3?
General classification standings in the first Grand Tour of 2026 -
La Vuelta Femenina penalties, fines and yellow cards
All the rule infringements and punishments handed out in Spain
