Tour de France 2015 Route stage 5: Arras

Tour de France 2015 Route stage 5: Arras - Amiens

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 - A mass sprint at the end of the 189 kilometres journey between Arras and Amiens seems almost inevitable. Few opportunities for the sprinters this Tour so escapees will no be giving too much space to maneuver.

In days long gone Arras belonged to Flanders, it was in the year 1659 the city finally fell into French hands. The historic buildings attracts loads of tourists each year.

WWI brought havoc to the city and today’s stage is in remembrance of those days. As a tribute to the men who died in battle around the river Somme, several military cemeteries will be passed. The ride is not completely flat, but the rolling terrain should not worry the sprinters. No KOM-points to be gained today, which goes to show.

Arrival town Amiens is dominated by the largest Gothic cathedral in France. In 1932 André Leducq was the first Tour de France stage-winner in the shadows of that World Heritage Site and 2015 brings the 10th occasion. After Leducq fast men like André Darrigade (1964), Marino Basso (1967) and Walter Godefroot (1970) were victorious in Amiens. The last winner is Mario Cipollini (1999).

Race results/stage report, stage 5, Tour de France 2015.