Tour de France Stage 5: Epernay to Montargis
Plain Stage
Thurs, July 8—starts at 1230 local time
About Stage 5
By Chris Brewer
Today's totally a day for the sprinters once again. With nothing to really break the pack up, everyone will just be waiting to let the day’s escape go down the road, then make the capture 5-10km from the line. The first hour and the last 30 minutes will be very fast, in between it should be a very tolerable day in the saddle.
About Epernay
Like Reims, the town of Épernay is known for its champagne. The area around Épernay has 30,000 hectares of vineyards, and is bordered by the Marne River. A famous site in the town is the Avenue du Champagne, which house cellars filled with over 200 million bottles of champagne.
Épernay dates back to the fifth century, though the town has been destroyed many times due to war. The heritage of the area can be seen in the 19th century town houses and historical monuments, such as the Castellane tower and the Gabrielle-Dorziat theatre. Épernay also has history in the Tour: this is the fourth time it acts as a stage town.
diffusion center of the baroque art movement, but after World War I, it was heavily influenced by the art-deco style.
About Montargis
Located on the Loing River, the town of Montargis is known for its canals and 131 bridges and walkways. It has been nicknamed the "Venice of the Gatinais," in reference to the province in which it is situated. Montargis has a rich history. Home to the remains of the royal castle of Renee de France (sister-in-law of King Francis I), in the 16th century the castle became a refuge for Protestants. A century earlier, King Charles VII made Montargis a tax-free town, because of the honorable role it played in the Hundred Years' War against England.
Although it is no longer a tax-free town, Montargis still attracts visitors. The town has embarked on a renovation project, and tourists enjoy the architecture and monuments of the area. This is the fourth time Montargis has been a stage town for the Tour.
-- City descriptions written by Rachel Horn
Tags:
de france,
de france s5
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