Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/537300
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JULY 2015 55 Sport TOUR DE FRANCE Tour de France 2015 stage-by-stage The full stage schedule,for the 2015 Tour de France, which runs between July 4-26 Stage 1: Saturday, July 4 – Utrecht to Utrecht – 13.8km individual time trial The race begins with a short and technical test against the clock in Utrecht. The course is flat but contains an endless barrage of tight turns and is consequently as much a test of bike-handling skills as it is power. Stage 2: Sunday, July 5 – Utrecht to Neeltje Jans – 166km The race remains in the Netherlands for part two of the Grand Depart, which will al- most certainly end in a sprint. However, the route skirts the coast and even passes over the water several times, so there is a strong chance of high winds and, as a result, splits in the peloton. Stage 3: Monday, July 6 – Antwerpen to Huy – 159.5km The peloton will leave the Netherlands behind and cross the border into Belgium for a potentially eventful and important day. It ends on the legendary Mur de Huy, a short but dev- ilishly steep climb made famous by the one- day Ardennes classic La Fleche Wallonne. The climb is only 1.3km long but carries a maxi- mum gradient over 20 per cent, which could create time gaps between the favourites and give the general classification its first shake- up. Stage 4: Tuesday, July 7 – Seraing to Cambrai – 221.5km Another potentially pivotal day, stage four sees the riders take on the dreaded cobbles of Bel- gium and northern France for the second year in succession. The cobbles caused chaos in the 2014 edition and could do the same once again. There are seven sectors of pavé – as the cob- bles are known – totalling 13.3km. The route is largely flat, but the cobbles could create huge gaps between the favourites for overall victory, as well as carrying a high risk of crashes. Stage 5: Wednesday, July 8 – Arras to Amiens – 189.5km After two stressed and strenuous days, the Tour settles down somewhat with a flat day that should end in a sprint finish. Stage 6: Thursday, July 9 – Abbeville to Le Havre – 191.5km Today there is a very good chance the riders will once again have to contend with cross- winds. As they make their way west along the notoriously windy Normandy coastline, every gust will threaten to blow the peloton to piec- es, meaning teams will have to position them- selves well and ride hard if they are to avoid be- ing caught out. A short but sharp uphill finish should suit punchy climbers or riders who can sprint well on an incline. Stage 7: Friday, July 10 – Livarot to Fougeres – 190.5km The race heads inland for a gently undulating day that should end in a bunch sprint. Stage 8: Saturday, July 11 – Rennes to Mur de Bretagne – 181.5km A difficult opening week continues with anoth- er day offering the potential for yet more splits in the pack. It will all come down to the short but steep uphill finish on the Mur de Bretgne, which has a maximum gradient of over 12 per cent. The steepest parts are at the bottom, so the fight for position should be frantic and the attacks are likely to come early. Stage 9: Sunday, July 12 – Vannes to Plumelec – 28km team time trial The opening week ends with yet another stage that will create time gaps between the contenders for overall victory. As team time trials go, this one is long and undulating, and it is further complicated by the 1.7km climb to the finish, which averages 6.2 per cent in gradient. Stage 10: Tuesday, July 14 – Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint-Martin – 167km The race resumes after the first rest day with its first of the six mountain-top finishes. The Pyrenean climb to La Pierre-Saint-Martin is a long and difficult grind that should create splits and give the first indication of who among the race favourites has the strongest climbing legs. Stage 11: Wednesday, July 15 – Pau to Cauterets – 188km Another mountainous day in the Pyrenees takes the peloton over two iconic climbs, the Col d'Aspin and the legendary Col du Tourmalet, before finishing on with a summit fin- ish at the ski town of Cauterets. The Tourmalet is likely to be the key climb of the three, with its long distance and steep gradients almost certain to create an elite lead group who will then go on to battle for the victory on the last, easier ascent. There is also a decent chance of a breakaway winner. Stage 12: Thursday, July 16 – Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille – 195km The third of three consecutive summit finishes is another brute and will provide a stern test to legs already drained by the previous two days' exertions. The general classifica- tion contenders will once again got toe to toe and gaps between them are likely. Stage 13: Friday, July 17 – Muret to Rodez – 198.5km The race leaves the Pyrenees and heads north on a rolling transition stage that should suit an all-rounder or a punchy climber. The last 563m to the finish line climbs steeply uphill at an average gradient of 9.6 per cent. The contenders for overall victory will be keen not to lose time on this tricky finish. Stage 14: Saturday, July 18 – Rodez to Mende – 178.5km The Tour heads back into the mountains – the Massif Central this time – for a day that the general classification teams could well leave to the breakaway to fight out. The final climb is short but very steep, with the summit being followed by just shy of 2km of flat to the finish. Stage 15: Sunday, July 19 – Mende to Valence – 183km Dropping out of the mountains once more, the sprinters come back to the fore today. Although there are plenty of climbs on the route, the last of them is too far out to deny the fast men a bunch finish. Stage 16: Monday, July 20 – Bourg-de- Peage to Gap – 201km This finish is becoming a regular fix- ture at the Tour, with the testing climb of the Col de Manse being followed by a fast and at times dangerous descent back down into the city of Gap. It's another day where the general classification contend- ers will look to stay safe and avoid time losses rather than go on the attack. There is a good chance of a breakaway winner. Stage 17: Wednesday, July 22 – Digne-les- Bains to Pra-Loup – 161km After the second rest day, the general classification battle sparks back into life with the fourth of the race's six sum- mit finishes and the first in the Alps. It's probably the easiest of all the summit fin- ishes and gaps between the yellow jersey hopefuls are unlikely to be large. Stage 18: Thursday, July 23 – Gap to St- Jean-de-Maurienne – 186.5km Another meaty day in the Alps and poten- tially another one for the breakaway. The Glandon is the biggest test of the stage and the peloton will be whittled down significantly on its slopes. All-rounders should fare best today. Stage 19: Friday, July 24 – St-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles – 138km Summit finish number five takes Chris Froome back to La Toussuire, site of his now famous "attack" on team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins at the 2012 Tour. First, though, the riders must tackle the Glandon again – going up in the opposite direction this time – before carrying on over the Col de la Croix de Fer. It's only a short day but the barrage of climbing means the riders will be tired by the time they reach the foot of the final ascent and weaker legs will be ruthlessly exposed on the long climb. Stage 20: Saturday, July 25 – Modane to Alpe d'Huez – 110.5km This short but savage stage visits two iconic Tour climbs: the enormous Col de la Croix de Fer and the legendary Alpe d'Huez. There probably won't be much to split the fa- vourites over the Croix de Fer, which weighs in at a sapping 29km, but there should be one last scrap between the yellow jersey hopefuls on the hairpins of the climb to Alpe d'Huez. Whoever leads the race at the top will win overall. Stage 21: Sunday, July 26 – Sevres to Paris – 109.5km The race ends with the traditional – and largely processional – sprint stage into Paris, finishing on the Champs-Elysees. The race leader will sip champagne with team-mates early in the day and only has to avoid crashing to seal victory. But that's easier said than done when the sprint teams start cranking up the pace ahead of the the bunch finish. Stage 14: Saturday, July 18 – Rodez to Mende – 178.5km The Tour heads back into the mountains – the Massif Central this time – for a day that the general classification teams could well leave to the breakaway to fight out. The final climb is short but very steep, with the summit being followed by just shy of 2km of flat to the finish. Stage 15: Sunday, July 19 – Mende to Valence – 183km Dropping out of the mountains once more, the sprinters come back to the fore today. Although there are plenty of climbs on the route, the last of them is too far out to deny the fast men a bunch finish. Stage 16: Monday, July 20 – Bourg-de- Peage to Gap – 201km This finish is becoming a regular fix- ture at the Tour, with the testing climb of the Col de Manse being followed by a fast and at times dangerous descent back down into the city of Gap. It's another day where the general classification contend- ers will look to stay safe and avoid time losses rather than go on the attack. There is a good chance of a breakaway winner. Stage 17: Wednesday, July 22 – Digne-les- Bains to Pra-Loup – 161km After the second rest day, the general classification battle sparks back into life with the fourth of the race's six sum- mit finishes and the first in the Alps. It's probably the easiest of all the summit fin- ishes and gaps between the yellow jersey hopefuls are unlikely to be large. Stage 18: Thursday, July 23 – Gap to St- Jean-de-Maurienne – 186.5km Another meaty day in the Alps and poten- tially another one for the breakaway. The Glandon is the biggest test of the stage and the peloton will be whittled down significantly on its slopes. All-rounders should fare best today.