Tour de France: Stage 1 preview
By Cycling News
Stage 1 map, profile and Chris Boardman video preview
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."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Peta Mullens wins Santos Festival of Cycling stage 1
Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Nicole Frain complete top three on day one of the women's race. -
Amanda Spratt: Confident with leadership role
'I'm under no illusions about how much I have learned from Annemiek' -
Justin Williams signs sponsorship deal with Red Bull
The American criterium racer signs with Red Bull, earning the opportunity to wear a rare yet iconic helmet -
2021 Santos Festival of Cycling start list
Porte to wear bib number 1 in Tour Down Under replacement
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.