Despite not being a mountainous stage – and only featuring two fourth category climbs – at the end of this stage, the Tour will arrive in the Alps. Although those two climbs are the only ones to count, the altitude rises steadily from 46 metres at the start in Nîmes to 599 metres at the finish in Digne les Bains. The route crosses Provence and the Luberon wine area between Mont Ventoux and the Côte d'Azur before finishing in the spa town in the shadow of the high mountains that divide France form its neighbour Italy.
Digne les Bains is a fairly regular host to the Tour, having been a stage town eleven times before. Last time – in 2005 – David Moncoutié took the second of his two career stage wins after attacking the break on the road from Briançon to the north.
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Eddy Merckx: Why 'the cannibal' is the greatest cyclist of all time
The Belgian rider won 11 Grand Tours, 19 Monuments and three elite world road titles in his 18-year pro career between 1965-1978 -
'Remco slowly killed me' - Wout van Aert left questioning his sprint after Evenepoel beats him to win De Brabantse Pijl
'I had hoped to beat him in the sprint, but apparently I don't have a sprint anymore' says Visma-Lease a Bike rider -
As it happened: Brabantse Pijl Men decided by two-up sprint between Evenepoel and Van Aert
Don't miss the racing action as the elite men's peloton tackles 162.6km from Beersel to Overijse -
De Brabantse Pijl: Remco Evenepoel pulls knock-out punch in sprint win over Wout van Aert
António Morgado best of the chasing bunch in Overijse
