Course: After a parade-style ride from the start outside Strasbourg’s 1000-year-old cathedral, the racing begins on the western edge of the city. The riders then make a counterclockwise loop around the quaint Alsatian towns and vineyards, cross the Rhine River into Germany and then head back across the river for the finish on part of the previous day’s prologue course. The day’s only categorized climb, a Cat. 4, is in the foothills of the Vosges mountains.

History: The last time a road stage finished in Strasbourg, in 2001, the 211km stage 6 from Commercy was won by Estonian sprinter Jaan Kirsipuu in a mass finish. Perhaps the most remarkable finish here was in 1971, when the second stage — completely flat like this year’s but only 144km — saw the race split in strong crosswinds, with yellow jersey Eddy Merckx taking the sprint win from fellow Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck and a group of only 15 riders, nine minutes ahead of the pack! The top four finishers in Paris were all in that break.

Stage 1: Strasbourg - Stasbourg - 184.5km

Favorites: Assuming the sprinters’ teams keep the race together on the flat, wide roads of the finale through Germany, we should see a first showdown between green-jersey candidates Boonen, Hushovd, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), Erik Zabel (Milram), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) and perhaps Stuart O’Grady (CSC). With the race passing through Germany, Zabel would love to win before his home fans.