The Stage - A race of two halves, with mostly flat opening 60 kilometres before a finishing run that takes place over much lumpier terrain, although there is a flat finish.
The Route - The historic city of Bourges is the start town as the race makes its way down towards the South of France. After the official start the field will head onto the D2076, and then turning onto the D953 after passing through Saint-Just. They will stay on that D-Road for a good deal of the stage, with Saint Bonnet Tronçais signifying a switch to the D39.
The first of the intermediate sprints takes place at Le Breton before they journey towards the day’s feedzone at Saint-Angel.
From here the rolling roads begin in real earnest. There are a series of roads that will rise at apparently 3% before a duo of third Category climbs in the shape of the Côte de la Bosse (2.3km at 5%) and the Côte des Boulards (4.8km at 4.8%). After the descent, there are then some rolling roads that take us down from the D12 and D22 before the finishing.
The Finish - The riders will actually get a chance to have a look at the finishing climb for the first time with 30 kilometres to go; Not too long afterwards Côte de Charbonnières (4.6km at 4.7%), the last chance for non-sprinters to attack and disrupt the trains that will hope to reel back any attacks before very complicated last 5 kilometres.
There is a slight downhill for two kilometres that starts with a left-handed roundabout off the D138 before a fast kilometre of the D446. This is a chance to position yourself before after there will be a hard left to the Avenue de Chatel-Guyon and then a left-hander which takes the field down to the D227 where they must take a left hand roundabout deep inside the flamme rouge but an uphill finish with the road curving slightly to the right before bolting for the last 100 meters.
The Winner - Is going to need to climb and descend well given the very lumpy second half of the stage, especially the last 25 kilometres. How hard the bunch goes is likely to be the key factor that decides how big the final sprint is.
The Contenders - This depends very much on how the second half of the stage is raced. The approach to the finish is fast, although quite tight and complicated; Before that the roads are constantly tolling and the Charbonnières is a significant enough climb for the fastmen which tops out with just 20 kilometres to go. Puncheurs ought to enjoy this a lot and could be favoured if the peloton keeps the pace high.
Things went wrong for Julian Alaphilippe yesterday, but this looks ideal territory with plenty of chances for Quick-Step to drive a hard pace. In a reduced sprint he is a big favourite, especially with such a complicated approach to the line. Should the pure fastmen make it, then Elia Viviani would obviously hold a big chance.
Dylan Gronewegen (Lotto-Jumbo) was the quickest man on merit today although Andre Griepel (Lotto-Soudal) sprinted well to take third. Arnaud Demare might be a tad disappointed to have been fifth given that he was in the prime position behind Ramon Sinkeldam yesterday, but his opening win was deeply impressive, and he should still go well. Alexander Kristoff (UAE) was seventh and John Degenkolb (Trek) was ninth – both should fancy their chances of a reduced sprint.
Stage 1’s finishing effort required a lot more power which brought plenty of puncheurs to the fore and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) narrowly beat the faster finishing Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) in what was itself a photo finish for third place then whilst Mike Teunissen (Sunweb).
Just two seconds behind were Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe), Dylan Teuns (BMC Racing Team) Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott), Ion Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) and Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale), all of whom would be major contenders in a flat out last 25kms.
