On the road
Somme department
The historical heart of Picardie, Somme has always been coveted because of its strategic position between Paris and Flanders. This open territory was the scene of several of the major battles in French history; most notably the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Its 555,000 I habitants chose in January 2012 to be called Samarians, Samara being the original name of the Somme, the river giving its name to the department.
The Somme economy relied for long on a prosperous agriculture and a powerful textile industry. Its position in the heart of Europe was the key to its renovation. Tourism is a growing activity around Amiens, Montdidier and a preserved coastline.
Seine-Maritime department
The department of Seine-Inferieure (lower Seine) was created by the French Revolution in 1790 from a part of the Normandy province. It was renamed Seine-Maritime in 1955. Its 1.27 million inhabitants are concentrated around the big towns of Rouen, Le Havre, Dieppe, Fecamp and Elbeuf. With its two wealthy ports and a focus on high technologies and tourism, Seine-Maritime can count on a solid economy.
Km 14.5 : Petit-Saucourt
It is near this site that took place in 881 the battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu in which King of France Louis III inflicted their first defeat on the Vikings who constantly raided the region. Some 8,000 Vikings, led by Gormont, died in the battle, immortalised in the Ludwigslied, one of the oldest poems in the German language.
Région Picardie
Préfecture : Amiens
Bordée par la Manche, la Picardie comprend trois départements : la Somme (80), l’Aisne (02) et l’Oise (60) et compte 2 292 communes.
Éternelle zone de passage, à la fois proche de la capitale et région frontière jusqu’en 1659, l’histoire de la Picardie est étroitement liée au destin de la France. Terre de rois, elle a subit les invasions des Romains, des Huns, des Francs, des Normands et des Flamands. La région a enduré les guerres de Cent Ans (1337-1435), de Religion (1562-1598), de Trente Ans (1618-1648), et fut le théâtre de combats décisifs durant la Grande Guerre.
Au 1erjanvier 2009, la Picardie comptait 1 906 600 habitants, soit près de 50 000 de plus qu’en 1999. C’est la 12èmerégion française par son nombre d’habitants.
Entre Marne et Somme, la région Picardie offre de multiples visages. Gothique à Amiens, Beauvais ou Laon. Royale à Chantilly ou Compiègne, elle se fait bucolique en baie de Somme ou dans les bocages de l’Aisne.
Jersey wearers after the stage 20
- yellow jerseyWIGGINS B.SKY
- polka-dot jerseyVOECKLER T.EUC
- white jerseyVAN GARDEREN T.BMC
- the day's winnerCAVENDISH M.SKY
- teamRADIOSHACK-.RNT
- super-combativeSORENSEN C.STB
Key moments
- 23:00Summary of the race
- 17:39Great Brit: Wiggins creates history
- 16:00Interview - Stage Winner
- 19:02Sagan: «I want to finish this season...
- 18:56Froome: «I couldn't be happier»
- 18:49Van Garderen: «It's been a huge three...
- 18:43Cavendish: «You've seen my sprint is...
- 18:31Wiggins: «It's very surreal»
- 11:45Analysis of the stage
- 10:30The day's route
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