Visé – Tournai
Distance: 207.5km
Highest point: 190m
Category: Flat
Gloves off for the sprinters
Already more than halfway towards Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 Tour stage victories, Mark Cavendish will have this stage very much in his sights. However, the list of challengers to the Briton’s sprint crown continues to grow. Also likely to feature are Tyler Farrar, André Greipel, Peter Sagan and new German star Marcel Kittel. The presence of Cavendish’s erstwhile lead-out men, Matt Goss and Mark Renshaw, also adds another intriguing edge. Cavendish has been a slow starter at recent Tours but should get plenty of motivation from his desire to keep his rivals in check.
André Greipel: "This is the first real opportunity for the sprinters. The finishing straight (on Boulevard Bara) is straight and wide which should make it easier to organise the lead-out trains and it will be interesting to see which teams have clicked."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
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Pieters and Uneken extend contracts with Boels Dolmans
'I've felt right at home with this team' says Uneken -
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HTV Cup: Tran Tuan Kiet wins stage 7
23 riders remain in contention for the overall classification -
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Naesen extends contract with AG2R La Mondiale through 2023
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Katie Hall sets new Everesting women’s record
Boels Dolmans rider climbs 8,848 metres in 10 hours
