After four days of sensational racing, the Tour arrives in the Flemish city of Ypres to commemorate the First World War centenary where three Tour champions died in the conflict, never returning from the battlefield.
One of the most anticipated stages of this year’s Tour, the peloton must ride through nine cobbled sectors, some of which feature in Paris-Roubaix, the Queen of the Classics.
With dangers aplenty, whether it be the narrow pavé sections or the bumpy cobbles which can cause punctures or mechanicals, the General Classification riders will do everything they can to get through unscathed.
The last time cobbles featured in 2010, Frank Schleck broke his collarbone in a crash and Lance Armstrong punctured. Punctures can prove costly as the team cars in the caravan are often minutes behind due to the narrow roads.
With rain and moderate winds forecast, this dangerous stage has the potential to rip the race apart. The first cobbled sector begins at the Carrefour de l’Arbre, 68km from the finish. Expect the riders in the peloton to aggressively fight for position ahead of that section.
Classics specialist Fabian Cancellara looks the hardest to beat. With no general classification aspirations, the three-time Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders winner will have the complete support of his Trek Factory Racing team. Coupled with his ability to launch sharp solo attacks and sustain them to the line, Cancellara has a great chance to take the stage.
John Degenkolb won this year’s Gent-Wevelgem and finished runner-up to Niki Terpstra in Paris-Roubaix. He is in great form this season and was desperately close to beating Mark Cavendish twice at the Tour of California. With one of the fastest sprints in the peloton, if Degenkolb can stay near the head of the race, he should go close. Greg van Avarmaet, another classics specialist, trails race leader Vincenzo Nibali by two seconds can take the yellow jersey if he gets into the breakaway and is unchallenged.
Fabian Cancellara to win and John Degenkolb to finish in the top three are just two of my predictions for today’s stage.
Follow Stephen on Twitter @sw064351
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