Stage 6: Arras – Reims

Since the Middle Ages, Arras has been famous for its Grand'Place which welcomed thousands of traders from all over Europe who came to do business. Today, it is home to the most renowned pop and rock artists, from Prince to Sting, the Black Eyed Peas, Ben Harper and even Céline Dion, who meet there for the Main Square Festival. A university city, Arras is now characterized by its large youth population; indeed, 33% of the inhabitants of the agglomeration are under 25 years old.

August 14, 2008, Céline Dion performing in Arras.

After a relatively flat course, the finish is in Reims, the capital of Champagne, where the Kings of France were crowned for nearly a century, notably in the famous Notre-Dame-de-Reims Cathedral. It was also in Reims that the first female road cycling world champion, Elsy Jacob, was crowned in 1958.

It was the Romans who introduced viticulture to Champagne, but it was not until the 17th century, when the natural effervescence of the local wine began to be controlled and, as the monk Dom Pérignon did, vines were pruned and crus and grape varieties were blended, that Champagne appeared. Closely linked to the monarchy, it became the wine of coronations, then the wine of kings. Champagne and the neighboring Ardennes region offer a network of more than 450 km of greenways across the region, avoiding the dangers of road axes.

A finish with an uphill climb that could suit a strong rider like Peter Sagan or Andrei Grippel… It's worth noting: the last three finishes of the Tour de France in the Champagne capital were won in a sprint by Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (1991), Robbie McEwen (2002) and Alessandro Petacchi (2010), all three en route to victory in the points classification for the green jersey! Will the rule be confirmed on July 27?