There are no categorised climbs on this stage and it’s fairly flat so it’s a good set-up for a bunch sprint. Oh, but there’s a twist to this …

Wednesday 8th July: Stage 5 – Arras to Amiens, flat, 189.5km

Stage 5 profile: Tour de France 2015

Today is a day when the wind could take its toll on the riders again. Although not coastal like stage two, this is nevertheless a twisty, turny stage, meandering an extra 120km on top of the distance between Arras and Amiens, which is 70km. Turning north, east, and south before heading west through practically treeless countryside to the finish – well, we know what can happen if the angle is right: echelons! Look for Etixx or Tinkoff to try to force the split, just as they did on Sunday, with Sky sticking to their wheels. Look for Astana and Movistar to try to turn the tables on them and take back some lost time.

That said, if the winds don’t feel mischievous, it’ll be business as usual: break goes out, break gets caught, sprint ensues. Will Mark Cavendish find redemption today and silence the doubters? Or will Andre Greipel get the better of him again? We shall see!

Link: Official race website

Header image: Canals in Amiens; via Wikipedia