CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 14h 54' 00"
HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 63 pts
PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
THOMAS Geraint SKY PRO CYCLING 14h 54' 23"
Stage Four: Tending the wounds
This is a traditional stage, without major difficulties, and the first entirely French stage of this year’s Tour. It is very short, but during the three previous days, we will have travelled a long way and encountered many difficulties. It is a time to tend the wounds. Whilst the fighters will try and strike out in breakaways, the sprinters’ teams will want to ensure that the pack reaches the finish in a group. Wind may have been a factor if this race had taken place earlier in the season, because the roads are more open to the elements in northern France. However, at this time of year, with a fairly bumpy finish, it will not have much of an influence.
• Reims• Population: 192,000
• Sub-prefecture of Marne (51)
Ten times already in the past the Tour has had occasion to celebrate with champagne here in the land of champagne production. Celebrations were almost every time in honour of a sprinter. The most recent winner was Robbie McEwen, in 2002, and this was merely the second of the Australian’s twelve stage victories. Prior to this, Cyrille Guimard, Francis Castaing and Djamolidine Abdoujaparov also triumphed in Reims.
Reims is known as the city of Champagne and the former coronation site of French kings. Bordered by the prestigious slopes of the Montagne de Reims, it is home to many famous champagne houses. The coronation site (in memory of Clovis’ baptism by Bishop Rémi in 489) of French kings (with three exceptions) from 1027 to 1825, Reims is proud of its cathedral, dating back to the 12th century and a symbol of the gothic period at its height. Since 1991, Notre-Dame cathedral has been a UNESCO world heritage site, as has the Palais du Tau, the former palace of the city’s archbishop, the Basilica of Saint-Rémi and the royal abbey of the same name which housed the Holy Ampulla (Sainte Ampoule) used for royal coronations. Every year, 20,000 students attend the city’s universities, colleges and institutes. The opening of the TGV high-speed train line in 2007 has cut the journey time to Paris to just 45 minutes and links the city to around ten international destinations. The new tramway line scheduled for completion in 2011 will transport its citizens around the city.
Click on Link:
