The second longest stage of this year’s Tour and there’s hardly a bump in the road. Until, that is, the very end. A day for the sprinters or another for the likes of a classics rider?

Friday 11th July: Stage 7 – Epernay to Nancy, flat, 234.5km

Sometimes stages are more about getting the peloton to cover a lot of ground in order to set up the next few stages and this looks like one of them. At 234.5km of mostly flat riding, the sprint teams will be controlling this race and most probably let a break hang out for a long while – so expect Eurosport’s Kirby and Kelly to wax philosophical for most of this stage.

However, the final 25km or so should see some chaos as it has two categorised climbs. Granted they’re only cat 4s, but the final one, just 5km from the finish, has an 8% gradient. You know what that means! Puncheurs and classics men will be looking to rain on the sprinters’ parade. Can Peter Sagan finally bag himself a stage win?

Link: Official website

Header image: Nancy