Not a single metre of flat
"We are not going to hide our feeling of satisfaction: this is the kind of stage we've been looking for for years! It's simple: there's not a single metre of flat, which means the peloton will get very stretched out, presenting the very real possibility of splits occurring. Let this be a warning to any team leaders who might mistakenly believe they can ride towards the back of the field? especially as, at 145km, this stage is very short! It will give the puncheurs plenty to conjure with. Thinking about just the French riders of that type, I can imagine Voeckler and Chavanel will be itching to get going... Whatever happens, at the finish we will know the names of those riders who can't win this Tour."
A sporting view
- Leaders
- Caravan
- Start town
- Finish town
- Feeding zone
- Checkpoints
- Sprint
- Last kilometre
- Hors catégorie climb
- Points of interest
Tourist attractions
Ajaccio
An imperial city but equally a nature territory well known for its exceptional climate, Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, only became French in 1769, a short time before the birth of the Emperor.
This history is perceptible throughout the town where signs of the Empire are everywhere : places, statues and of course the house where Napoleon was born which has become the National Museum of the Bonaparte Residence, as well as the Palais Fesch, museum of fine art, named after the owner, the uncle of the Sovereign and a great collector of Italian paintings.
Near to the Port Tino Rossi and the town hall, a market offers local specialities such les feuilletés aux herbes, les beignets au brocciu, cured meats, goats and sheeps cheeses, honey, clementines… Alongside are the fishermen with their riches from the sea, urchins, langoustines, local fish…Finally Ajaccio also offers up the art of living ‘'à l'ajaccienne'', a way of taking your time over a glass of something, lunch on the terrace, in town or beside the sea and to enjoy time as it passes by.
Web sites
Pop: 65,000
Prefecture of the Corsica region and of Corse-du-Sud department
Specialties: bruccio (cheese), sausage, doughnuts, aziminu (bouillabaisse), canistrelli (biscuits), AOC wines.
Economy: tourism, administrations.
Celebrities: Napoleon Bonaparte, cardinal Fesch. Tino Rossi, Alizee (singers), Roland Magdane (comic), Morio Matsui (Japanese painter), Jerome Ferrari (novelist).
Sport: AC Ajaccio, Gazelec Ajaccio (football), hippodrome of Vignetta, imperial regatta (May)
Culture: Spanish and Latin-American film festival (February), printemps des poetes (March), cinema and history meetings (April), ABYSS undersea pictures film festival (May), Napoleonian festival (August), Italian film festival (October), English and Irish film festival (December), Comics book fair (December)
Labels: climatic resort, town of art and history, Grand site de France and Natura 2000 (Sanguinaires islands and Pointe de la Prata)
- Leaders
- Caravan
- Start town
- Finish town
- Feeding zone
- Checkpoints
- Sprint
- Last kilometre
- Hors catégorie climb
- Points of interest
Calvi
Calvi is the economic and tourist capital of la Balagne, a region on the North West coast of the Island. It is said that Christopher Columbus was born here and that a stele commemorates him on the ramparts of the Citadel. Symbol of the town, this citadel was built in the 15th century during the time of the Genoese occupation. Its picturesque streets form a veritable labyrinth ideal to lose oneself in, whilst
below is the port, scattered with bars and restaurants, an ideal spot to have a drink or a romantic meal.
Calvi is also an ideal holiday destination. Its long 4km beach provides all sorts of activities such as water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing and parasailing. Around the town are 250 kms of hiking trails that have been tidied and marked up and that can be enjoyed by anyone, whether an experienced walker or a beginner.
So, whether you like coastal walks or just relaxing, if you're a lover of the natural perfumes of the Maquis, a grand epicurian or an experienced sportsperson... everyone is welcome under the Calvi sun.
Web sites
Pop: 5,500
Sub-prefecture ofHaute-Corse (2B)
Motto: Calvi city, always faithful. Civitas Calvi Semper Fidelis
Specialties: AOC wines, olive oil AOC, Marsulinu and Calinzanicu (cheese), Cucciuelles (biscuits), honey.
Economy: tourism.
Celebrities: Christopher Columbus, Admiral Nelson, Adolphe Landry (former minister), Marie-Claude Pietragalla (dancer).
Sport: FC Aregno Calvi (football). Corsican tennis championships (April)
Culture: Calvi Jazz Festival (June), Calvi on the rocks (July), Rencontres de Chants Polyphoniques (September), Wind festival Festiventu (October).
Labels: ville fleurie (3)
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
Sporting stakes
Yellow Jersey 
Green Jersey 
Red Polka Dot Jersey 
White Jersey 
Most aggressive rider 
Team classification Corporate social responsibility
Since it was founded, Amaury Sport Organisation has been involved in various sponsorship and philanthropy activities. It is the generosity of sport that can be found in a certain number of initiatives aiming to invest in the workings of the disciplines themselves (sponsorship of the French Federation of Cycling), in a humanitarian and social framework, (Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Actions Dakar, Un Techo Para Mi Pais) or in the environmental sphere (Madre De Dios, selective sorting, etc.). Read more
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