Today's Stage 7 is the first day in the mountains of this year's race, and that always makes for an EXCITING day of racing! The sprinters will take a back to seat to the climbers as the mountain goats spread their wings and fly like golden angels... well, something like that. Who's your favorite for the victory today? Click for more stage background

No stages have finished in this particular area of France. Wow! How is that possible with a race that is over 100 years old? There's always something new to discover...

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: 166 KM or 103.1 miles. How far is that?

166 kilometers is the same as 103 miles. This is actually on the shorter side for a TDF road stage, but today isn't about the length, it's about six categorized climbs! Ouchy.  

Estimated Length of Time:4:30 How long is that?

Four and a half hours should be the duration of today's stage. That's roughly the length of one of those Sarah Jessica Parker movies your mom loves. 

Terrain: mountainous.

Number of Climbs: One Cat 4, two Cat 3, and three Cat 2 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: 6000 How much would you have to eat?

Lots of climbs today, and that means lots of calories! The riders will eat a big breakfast three hors before the start time, lots of snack and drinks during the race, and a big healthy dinner after the race. It's actually hard to consume so many calories, but the body needs it on a day like today. 

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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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