The Stage
A transitional stage after the rest day with a hard start. It’s listed as a sprint stage and has a sprint finish but it should be more interesting – the day is shorter than many of the sprints so far and the terrain is too as well.
The Côte de Boussoulet, 4.5 kilometres long at 6.3%, should make for a very interesting start as a sizeable bunch can go clear and then there’s rolling terrain through the Ardche region. There’s another little peak at Saint-Andre En-Vivaris and then the Col du Rovey before a big drop down into the Drōme valley, with an intermediate sprint at Chatemerle-Les-Blés, one which also has an uphill rise.
From then we have some rolling roads to the finish.
The Finish
Is not a pure flat sprint, there’s a little drop from Bourg-de-Péage and then again at the entrance to the flamme rouge before an uphill kick, not vicious but enough to make a difference as regards timing of the sprint.
The last 5 kilometres have a range of pressure points, especially on the roundabouts nearing the Alee de Picardie, and then the sharp right hand turn that takes the field onto the Plaine-de-Beauregard. From here there’s time and a bit more space for the field but the last two kilometres and the flamme rouge get very tight again.
The road goes downhill before a right turn at Place Massenet when you have to take a hard right onto Boulevard Voltaire, and there’s a fairly long left hand turn to bring up to the Rond-Point de L’Europe – the last turn before a 300m finishing straight.
The Contenders
Assuming a bunch sprint makes it then it appears that nothing can stop Marcel Kittel making it six. His main green jersey rival Michael Matthews has plenty of speed but will be relieved to see a slight uphill drag to the finish, as will Edvald Boasson Hagen who has sprinted very well in the absence of Mark Cavendish. Daniel McLay is still here and has the speed for top 5 finishes as he’s shown twice.
Dylan Gronewgen technically went faster than Kittel at the finish in Pau and he keeps knocking at the door. He’s held his form better than Andre Greipel, who may well miss out on a Stage win in a Grand Tour once for the
Nacer Bouhanni has had a very poor tour, struggling for speed and position, whilst Ben Swift could enjoy this sort of finish.
The Break
In the last week, has a decent chance – better than usual – and especially today, given the terrain of the opening 100 kilometres. This will be all about who does and doesn’t make the opening escape.
Quick-Step are likely to have a long day on the front tomorrow but if they can insert a rider into the break then why chase? Michael Matthews could get into an escape for Sunweb although that will lead to a giant tug of war between the two.
There are several teams without a stage win – think BMC, UAE, Dimension Data, Katusha, Cofidis, Fortuneo, Movistar, Orica and Barhain Merida – and no reason not to attack for a huge amount of riders.
The Weather
No rain, but also a bit of wind to boot.
