Stage 6 - Montargis Gueugnon 227.5 km
The longest stage of this year’s Tour will present the pack with another opportunity for a grouped finish. The route is not very hilly and the riders will be well sheltered since there is a lot of forest, in the foothills of the Morvan range. Even if it is not a totally flat terrain, we will not see a grand battle like those we are used to on the passes. A word of warning though: if the weather is hot, this could affect the outcome. It will all depend on the team which takes control of the race, because if Cavendish is riding well and is sure of winning the stage, then his team will give it their all. Otherwise, which sprinting team will be capable of closing the door on the others?
• Stage town for the first time
• Population: 8,300
• County town of Saône-et-Loire canton (71)
A new stage town in this year’s Tour, Gueugnon is already famous among sports fans for its football team, “les Forgerons” (the Blacksmiths). Winners of the League Cup in 2000, the club’s players owe their nickname to the famous ironworks that brought wealth to the town before the slump in the iron and steel industry. Since then, and parallel to its expertise in this domain, Gueugnon has also renewed with its rural vocation of the past at the heart of Bourgogne, home to Charolais cattle.
Gueugnon is situated in the west of the French département of Saône-et-Loire in South Burgundy. Crossed by the River Arroux, it is at the crossroads of the Morvan, Charolais and Bourbonnais areas. It is generally perceived as an industrial town, despite being at the centre of a region devoted mainly to the breeding of Charolais cows. The famous Forges are now the site of the Ugine factory, a member of the Arcelor-Mittal group, the world leader in the stainless steel market. However, Gueugnon also has tourist and cultural attractions: green tourism, with many hiking trails, a heritage dating back to its Gallo-Roman past – a former potters’ village – and a variety of shows and events.
13 CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 22h 59' 45"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 102 pts
135 PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
39 THOMAS Geraint SKY PRO CYCLING 23h 00' 08"
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