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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Hirschi: I’m still missing a little bit and hope La Fleche Wallonne will go better
UAE Team Emirates rider off the pace in Amstel Gold Race -
Matthews: New Amstel route wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be
Australian wins bunch sprint for fourth place -
Demi Vollering contests in sprint at Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition
SD Worx Dutch rider finishes runner-up after Van der Breggen misses decisive move -
Wout van Aert: After the finish I didn't know if I had won Amstel Gold Race
Photo finish hands verdict to Belgian over Pidcock in dramatic sprint
