Tour de France: Stage 5 preview
Stage 5 map, profile and Chris Boardman video preview
Rouen – St-Quentin
Distance: 196.5km
Highest point: 205m
Category: Flat
All set for the sprinters
Having zigged to the west, the race zags back to the east and begins its march towards the mountains with this straightforward stage into St-Quentin. Mark Cavendish has won stage 5 of the Tour in three of the past four seasons and is sure to be well backed to continue that run here. There are no difficulties at all. The terrain is ideal for chasing down a small breakaway group, while the finish is straight and wide enough to provide the sprinters with a great stage on which to perform. Tribute will be paid today to Jean Robic, whose 1947 Tour-winning break began at the location of the start.
Jérémy Roy: "Because the route follows one general direction, everything will depend on the weather – if the wind is from a bad angle there will be people everywhere! The sprint teams will try to control the race so it will be difficult to get away."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour de France abandons: Søren Wærenskjold latest to drop out of 2025 race
João Almeida will be a significant absence for UAE Team Emirates-XRG after departing race on stage 9 -
As it happened: The break succeeds on Bastille Day, while GC riders attack each other on stage 10 of the Tour de France
The peloton tackles 165.3km from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy and the first summit finish of this year’s Tour de France -
Tour de France: Simon Yates solos to victory on stage 10 as yellow jersey changes hands again
Breakaway succeeds on tough stage to Puy de Sancy -
The current GC standings at the Tour de France 2025
Tadej Pogačar cedes yellow as Ben Healy takes a sensational race lead in the Tour de France