STAGES FOR THE AGES

STAGE 3, MONDAY, JULY 9 – 35.5KM

THE first team time-trial at the Tour de France in three years takes place on 35.5km of undulating roads outside Cholet, in the country’s west. A nervous day for the overall contenders, who could potentially lose significant time here given the reliance on seven teammates. Starts 11.10pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.35am.

STAGE 6, THURSDAY JULY 12 – 181KM

IT’S not the Alps or the Pyrenees – it’s a small hill in Bretagne – but it will offer the first hint of how the general classification aspirants are feeling. At the site of a famous Cadel Evans’ win en route to the 2011 title, the peloton faces two ascents of the Mur de Bretagne in the final 16km, including a 2km climb to the finish at an average gradient of 6.9 per cent. Starts 9.40pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.30am.

STAGE 9, SUNDAY JULY 15 – 156.5KM

THE day of the FIFA World Cup final and Wimbledon men’s singles final is also a red-letter day in the Tour. Indeed, for many, this will be THE day. The stage to Roubaix includes 15 cobbled sections totalling 21.7km – a stressful recipe for the title contenders, particularly if the weather turns nasty. Starts 8.50pm (AEST). Expected finish 12.18am.

STAGE 10, TUESDAY JULY 17 – 158.5KM

FIVE intermediate climbs are on the menu on the first of three huge days in the French Alps, with the Col de la Colombiere the final leg-sapping test on Stage 10. But it’s the Montee du Plateau des Glieres – a torturous 6km climb at 11.2 per cent, about 62km into the stage – that offers the real sadistic twist: a 2km stretch of gravel to, and beyond, the summit. Starts 7.35pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.57am.

STAGE 12, THURSDAY JULY 19 – 175.5KM

ONE for the romantics as the Tour returns to the iconic Alpe d’Huez. Decisive on any occasion, there may be some extra sting in the 21 hairpins given they come at the end of a taxing three-day stretch in the Alps. Don’t miss this. Starts 8.25pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.54am.

STAGE 19, FRIDAY JULY 27 – 200.5KM

THE final mountain stage is a brute and gives the GC men a final chance to flex their muscles. More than 4800m of climbing is packed into 200.5km, with the Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and the Col d’Aubisque – the latter on the route for the first time in six years – all lying in wait. Starts 8.05pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.32am.

STAGE 20, SATURDAY JULY 28 – 31KM

THE only individual time-trial – the aptly named “Race of Truth” – comes on the penultimate day in the far south-west corner of France. It will be held on the corresponding stage of the 2017 Tour, but it is longer (31km) and hillier than last year’s circuit around Marseille. Starts 8pm (AEST). Expected finish 1.13am.