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."
-
Giro d'Italia adds time bonus sprints to 19 stages of 2025 race in partnership with Red Bull to 'ignite fierce battles' in GC
New sponsorship and bonus seconds could spark more aggressive racing due to position of Red Bull KM intermediate sprints -
Who is Miguel Indurain?
All you need to know about the first, and to date only, rider to win the Tour de France five times in succession -
‘The human element will not be eliminated anytime soon’ - Dimitris Katsanis on 3D printing, AI, and the future of carbon fibre
Will the world's first completely 3D printed road frameset help usher in a new era of frame manufacturing? -
Tour of the Gila: Lauren Stephens, Kieran Haug seal overall victories
Robinson Lopez wins men's final stage, Frankie Hall leads Aegis sweep in Piños Altos
