STAGE 5
The day after shortest stage of the Tour comes the longest, a 142-mile flat and rolling ride from Cholet to Châtearoux. There isn't a single classified climb on the day, a sure sign that the sprinter's teams will not let the day's breakaway go too far beyond their reach. The overall contenders should have an easy ride from point A to point B, unless one of those men earned the leader's jersey in yesterday's time trial. In that case, his team manages the duties of keeping the breakaway riders within reach, sharing that responsibility with the sprinters' teams.
This may be the longest stage of the race, but it's far from the hardest. In fact, this long day in the saddle will work to the advantage of many Tour contenders whose gameplan it is to ride into form during the race's first week. Many riders plan on coming into the Tour slightly below their highest fitness level, hoping to use the first week to build up to their peak. This strategy can sometimes backfire if the weather turns miserable in the first week.
MORE TOUR de FRANCE MAPS
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
Stage 5 |
Stage 6 |
Stage 7 |
Stage 8 |
Stage 9 |
Stage 10 |
Stage 11 |
Stage 12 |
Stage 13 |
Stage 14 |
Stage 15 |
Stage 16 |
Stage 17 |
Stage 18 |
Stage 19 |
Stage 20 |
Stage 21
Google Earth Flyover: 2008 Tour de France
See more race coverage at
bicycling.com/tourdefrance.
