We're riding further into France, this time from Brienne-le-Chateau to Nancy. It's again a fairly flat stage, but with an intense finish at the end of the stage. Once coming closer to Nancy there is a short steep climb, perfect for a brave attack. If not then, the decisive moment will be the uphill finish in Nancy. It's 3 kilometres at 5% and thus ideal for punchers like Gerrans, Matthews, powerful sprinters like Degenkolb or Sagan and even Guys for the general classification could be seen on top. Be aware, this stage has a 7-second time gap. So any gap on the road could cost real time here.

Welcome to Stage 5. This section of the Tour leads the peloton southern from Saint-Florentin to Moulins. With 223 kilometres it's a long stage and quite a tough stage for the sprinters. On the way to Moulins, the athletes ride through the Parc Naturel Region du Morvan, which offers two mountain classifications for the polka dot jersey. The first time of this Tour there is a 3rd category climb. Nonetheless, this is a day for the sprinters. We can expect that the fast men won't hand this over since the next three stages lead us into the Central Massif and to much harder stages as well.

After five fairly flat stages we're going to see our first real mountain top finish tonight. The sixth stage leads us from Vichy into the heights of the Central Massif, Station du Le Mont-Dore. After an approach of nearly 100 kilometres, the riders must climb over 16 kilometres to the 2nd category climb Col de la Croix Morand. The peloton then takes a right-hand turn to tackle the same summit just from another direction. Once over it, the athletes will take another right-hand turn to the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, a 2nd category climb as well. After the descent, the riders come to the final summit of the day, the slopes to the Ski Station at Le Mont Dore. These are around 3 kilometres and 7 percent. The Stage should give us a first blink on the form of the favorites, but shouldn't make too much damage to the overall classification. It's a hilly stage after all. However, in the end, it's on the big guns. They decide how much action we're going to see. Anyway, there's a 4-seconds gap at the finish.

Hello again. Another day in the Massif Centrale, another day to watch out. It's 222 zig-zag kilometres from Issoire to the town of Aurillac. After an 80 kilometre build-up we're heading to Le Loiran, namely the Col de Cere, an easy 2nd category climb. Then we take a left-hand turn to the Col du Pertus, a 3rd category climb with steep sections. Right after that, the peloton climbs over the 1st category Pas de Peyrol. The athletes should memorize this section since they will descent them once they passed the Pas de Peyrol the 2nd time. When they reached the summit they'll take a right-hand-turn to our intermediate sprint destination Riom-en-Montagnes at 145 kilometres. From there on we heading toward the Pas de Peyrol again while climbing over the small 4th category Col d'Aulac. The 2nd ascent to the Pas the Peyrol is very tough with steep sections at 12 percent. A bold attack could decide the stage. If not then, we have another small hill right before the finish where an attack could be started to win the stage. Even we will see the favorites to the general classification at the front, the stage itself is designed for a breakaway. However, as always the riders will make the race.

Welcome. It's the last day in the Massif Centrale and well, it's a big day. In fact, we're going to see the first mountain stage of the Tour. But thirst things thirst. The start is in Marvejols, a small Town southern Aurillac. After some small climbs, the peloton rides through a narrow valley towards Le Rozier. Midway through there's the intermediate sprint in Les Vignes. We could see a Guys like Peter Sagan and other Sprinters in the break today, looking for sprint points for the Green Jersey. Once Le Rozier is passed the day of the sprinters is finally over. Because it's going almost 60 kilometers uphill with two 3rd category climbs and some small descents on the way. After the Col de la Pierre Plantée it's to time to rest the legs on a very long descent. We'll see the peloton coming together, probably, till they reach the foot of the Col du Minier. This mountain is a 20 kilometre long and steady climb at 5 to 6 percent. At the summit, the riders will have some opportunity to recuperate till they climb the last 4-kilometre summit to the Ski Station of Prat Peyrot. Again, nothing crazy here with slopes at 5 to 6 percent. At the finish, the time gaps are protocolled at 3 seconds.

The stage is designed for the general classification, but should favour the big diesel engines and solid hilly-climbers as well. It's nothing compared to the climbs in the Pyrenees or Alpes, but at this time of the Tour it's perfect, so the gaps don't become too big.

After the last three hard and long stages it's time to tune it a little bit down for a moment. With the 9th stage, we're leaving the Massif Central and heading towards the Pyrenees. Besides some nice landscapes, the stage has nothing special to offer. Maybe a day for the breakaway, maybe a mass sprint finish. With just 168 kilometres is also quite short, so a good day to rest the legs if you're not a sprinter or in the breakaway.

Todays 10th stage is the last sprint-stage before the big mountains of the Pyrenees. Yesterday was a day to relax. At least as far we can say so in a day of the Tour de France. Todays stage on the other hand is nothing like that. It over 210 kilometres from Castelsarrasin to Dax with many up and downs along the route. The big question as always is: Will there be mass sprint or a breakaway win? In my test there was a well timed mass sprint finish.

Stage 11 is the first individual time trial of the Tour. Its 37,5 kilometre long and has two small hills on the way. Its flat enough for riders like Martin or Cancellara to win, but shouldn't hurt the pure climbers too much, since they can make up time on the ascents.

Stage 12 brings us into the Pyrenees. We're starting in Orthez and heading to the City of Pau. From there the peloton rides towards the Orlon-Saint-Marie, where the intermediate sprint is taken. Then it's the 1st category Col de Labays the riders must tackle, followed by the 3rd category Col d'Ichere. From there on the favorites will give us a show on the Col du Somport, a 16 kilometre at 6 percent. Once the summit is reached there is small descent and another climb to Candanchú.