This stage takes us into classic Breton cycling territory, with a lovely roll-out along the coast to the old fortified town of Concarneau, and a hilly finale along narrow lanes leading towards Quimper, commonly recognised as the cultural heart of Brittany. Riders are beginning to feel the burn – Quimper’s a far cry from the Alps, but this stage will feel tough and hilly and is designed to shake things up in the pro peloton a week later. It includes five categorised climbs, and is definitely ‘hilly’ rather than the previous ‘rolling’ or ‘flat’ stages (check out the profile below).
