Stage Details

Stage 8 - Sunday, July 14: St. Martin-de-Landelles - Plouay

Distance:	217.5km
Start Location:	Le Jardin, St. Martin-de-Landelles
Start Time:	Flying Start: 12:20 p.m. on D.30, intersection of D.30 - La Motte
Description:	Course: At 217.5km, this is the longest stage of the opening two weeks. Again, there are no major climbs, but there are about two dozen short hills that, combined with the distance, will give a chance to long-range attacks. The most difficult section is the final 52km — first climbing out of the Blavet valley at Pontivy, and then heading over the steep Côte de Kervaland 30km from the finish, before descending into the town of Plouay. Here, the Tour will make a lap of the 2000 world’s road circuit, which is named after Jean-Yves Perron, the late promoter of the town’s annual French classic. The circuit has three short hills in its 13.5km, two on narrow back roads, the last, the Cat. 4 Côte de Ty-Marrec, on a wide main road, 3.5km from the line. History: This is the first Tour stage to end in Plouay, although a stage did start here (in the rain) in 1998. This stage starts in St. Martin de Landelles, the hometown of the long-time Tour de France announcer Daniel Mangeas; halfway into the race it passes through St. Méen-le-Grand, hometown of the late three-time Tour winner Louison Bobet; and it ends at Plouay, where the annual GP Ouest-France has been held for the past 70 years. Favorites: This is the sort of stage and finish that should suit an inspired Jalabert, especially if he can get into a small breakaway group. Otherwise, the finale should be fast enough to split the peloton on the narrow roads — beware of crashes — and could result in a stage win for world champion Oscar Freire, who was third at the 2000 world’s on the Plouay circuit.