Make way for the first real stage in line for this women’s Tour de France. The peloton will cover 136.4 kilometers between Meaux and Provins, Monday July 25, the day after a first meeting in the streets of Paris. Lorena Wiebes (DSM), victorious on Sunday, will try to keep her yellow jersey.
What is the stage profile?
Seine-et-Marne is the first department covered in the rush to the east of the peloton. Departing from Meaux, this second stage, on the plain, should give pride of place to the sprinters. The only difficulty, to allow Femke Markus (Parkhotel-Valkenburg) to keep his polka dot jersey, will intervene from kilometer 16. The coast of Tigeaux, listed in the fourth category, culminates at 150 meters (1.5 km at 4.7% on average).
One hundred kilometers of flat will follow, before the finish in Provins. The route offers two passages through this sub-prefecture, the first of which will lead to an intermediate sprint. The final finish will be judged twenty kilometers further on, after a loop around Provins.
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Which runners can shine?
The flat profile of this second stage further favored the sprinters. But unlike the day before, the longer route could still benefit the breakaways. After being frustrated at the opening, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) will display ambitions to open her counter on the Tour. Lotte Kopecky (SD Work), third on Sunday, will also seek to win, as will world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo).
But dethroning Wiebes will not be easy, as the Dutch excels in the art of sprinting. With sixteen victories on the clock this year, she remains favorite to keep her yellow jersey.
What are the schedules ?
2:10 p.m. : beginning of the retransmission on France 3 and france.tv
12:50 p.m.: fictitious departure
1:05 p.m.: real start
4:15 p.m.: expected arrival in Provins