STAGE 2
Nerves in the peloton will remain on edge through Stage 2, a 102-mile, north-to-south affair ending in Saint Brieuc, the hometown of five-time tour champion Bernard Hinault. There are 4 classified climbs mixed into a handful of intermediate sprints on this stage. At 8.7 percent for just under a mile, the category 3 climb up Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne could wreak havoc, especially if Brittany's strong crosswinds batter the peloton for most of the day.
With small time gaps likely to be left over from the Tours first stage, the yellow jersey could change hands at the finish line on Stage 2. The final stretch is ill-suited for a high-speed lead-out train. This stage concludes on windy roads up a slight climb, so expect the players to react with 5,000 meters to go rather than 500. Teams lacking a true overall contender or big sprint finisher will be extremely motivated on a stage like this one: with both the yellow jersey and a stage win at stake, sponsor exposure will certainly affect tactical decisions.
Editor's Note: Our preview maps were created using the stage outlines from the Tour de France organizers. In some cases, the mileage may vary since the exact start and end points were not provided by officials.
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
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