Arc-et-Senans – Besançon
Distance: 41.5km
Highest point: 379m
Category: Time trial
The battle for yellow begins
If a time trial specialist does win this year’s Tour, it’s a fair bet that he will be among the top three or four finishers today. Initially announced as 38km, this stage is now another 3.5km longer. It’s a test of two halves, with the first 20 kilometres much more rolling than those near to the finish. However, there is not much here that will worry the stronger time trialists, such as Wiggins, Martin and Cancellara. They will power up the climbs and should gain three to four seconds a kilometre on Frank Schleck and the other climbers – some two and three minutes by the end. If it’s any less than that, the RadioShack-Nissan leader will be very happy.
Sean Yates: "This could be decisive to the final GC. Bradley will be trying to win the stage and put as much time into his rivals as possible – every second counts. It’s an ideal length for him but not really as straightforward as the second time trial."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
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British Road National Championships: Sam Watson solos to victory in elite men's road race
Matthew Brennan takes second in field sprint ahead of Ethan Vernon -
Spanish Road Championships: Iván Romeo continues stellar run of form to take solo road race victory
Fernando Barceló second, Roger Adrià third in Granada -
2025 Road National Champions index
Elite men and women who won their national road championships titles in road race and individual time trial -
German Road Championships: Georg Zimmermann edges out Felix Engelhardt to win road race title
Anton Schiffer is third in Linden
