Today's stage has two small category 4 climbs in the first 37 km, then it's flat terrain for the rest of the day. The finish in Montargis may be hectic, with some small narrow roads before the final sprint to the line. Keep your eyes open everybody! Click for more stage background

TDF TRIVIA: In 1969, Belgian star Herman Van Springel won a 330 km (!!!) stage, finishing in Montargis. In 2009, the literary classic "Mike and the Bike Meet Lucille the Wheel" was unleashed upon the cycling public. The book introduced a character named Axel Van Springel. Coincidence? Is Axel the son of Herman? Herman's father? Are they brothers? Twins separated at birth? WILL WE EVER KNOW?!?!?!?!

Start Time: 12:00 p.m. Central European Time.

Stage Type: Road Race. Explain

Riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first at the end of the course. Members of teams together to work to give advantage to their fastest riders or to their rider best placed in the overall standings.

Stage Distance: 188 KM or 116.8 miles. How far is that?

188 kilometers is the same as 116 miles. A car going 60 miles per hour can do that in under two hours. The TDF cyclists today will average about 28 miles per hour. So how long will that take? Put your math hat on!

Estimated Length of Time:4:15 How long is that?

Four hours and fifteen minutes is roughly the length of a reeeeally long nap. The kind of nap your parents never get to take anymore.

Terrain: flat.

Number of Climbs: Two Cat 4 climbs. What does "cat" mean?

"Cat" is short for "category." The climbs are rated according to how long and hard they are. They are ranked Category 1-4, with 4 being the "easiest" (I'm not sure they're so easy!) and 1 being the "hardest." But wait- there's even a harder one! Climbs that are rated "Hors Categorie" (above category) are longer and steeper than a Category 1. That sounds HARD!

Estimated Calories: 3500 How much would you have to eat?

Today's stage will be flat, fast, and not too long. The riders will eat a nice breakfast loaded with carbs and protein, but nothing too big or heavy. Lots of snacking throughout the stage, and of course, a nice dinner afterwards. Plenty of fluids too!

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Are you hungry?

By Mari Holden at Velo Betty

It's really important for the cyclists to eat and drink while they are on the bike. In a race like the Tour de France the riders can barely keep up with replacing the amount of calories that they burn. So, they have to make sure that they eat while they are riding. Normally they will carry some small bars and gels in their jersey pockets. But, they can go back to their team cars in the caravan to get more food and bottles. There are guys on the team who are designated to help the other riders, and they will make many trips to the car. Their job is really important because they are helping the other riders on the team. There are also areas called "feed zones" where each team has people waiting by the side of the road to hand their riders bottles. They normally hand the bottles to their riders in "musettes which are like cloth purses for food and bottle. That way each rider can get a couple bottles and some food all in one bag. The cyclists have to eat so much every day that they actually get tired of eating and have to work hard to get their calories. So, sometimes the teams add some of the riders favorites in their musette bags... Things like small sandwiches, and cookies are favorites...

 

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