Saint-Lô / Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

Stage 2 - Sunday, July 3rd - 183 km

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The Stage

More World War II as we leave Saint-Lô and along the stage all day to Cherbourg.

Today's stage is one for the 'puncheurs' though the wind might break up the peleton. The short, sharp, uphill finish is going to be hotly contested as the general classification riders don't want to lose any precious seconds. Who will win? Will it be Alejandro Valverde (who seems to be able to win La Flèche Wallonne even in his sleep), Julian Alaphilippe, or Peter Sagan?

Edit: forgot to mention that Greg van Avermaet will likely get another one of his many second places here.

Winner: Peter Sagan

Tour Touristique

A war story. Near to today's route lies Sainte-Mère-Église. The night before D-Day American paratroopers were dropped around this village but they were easy targets for the German soldiers and few survived the night. One paratrooper who survived was John Steele; his chute got caught on the church tower, leaving him hanging there. He pretended to be dead but was taken prisoner after a few hours by the Germans. Steele later escaped from the Germans and rejoined his division when US troops of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment attacked the village. Though injured, Private Steele survived his ordeal. He continued to visit the town throughout his life and was an honorary citizen of Ste. Mère Église.

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