Stage 8 will depart from Semur-en-Auxois, covering a relatively flat 183.4 km long stage which will involve 2,400 meters of elevation gain before arriving in the small commune of Colombey-les-deux-Églises.
Semur-en-Auxois is in the Côte-d'Or department within the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. The communes boasts a well-maintained medieval core, built on a pink granite bluff encircled by the River Armançon. Colombey-les-Deux-Églises is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.
The stage features hilly terrain with several categorized climbs: Côte de Vitteaux (3.2 km at 5.8%) Côte de Villy-en-Auxois (2.7 km at 5.4%) Côte de Verrey-sous-Salmaise (3.6 km at 5.2%) Côte de Santenoge (1.5 km at 7.1%) Côte de Giey-sur-Aujon (1.4 km at 7.2%)
The first two-thirds of the route are particularly hilly, with five categorized climbs. Finish: The final kilometer rises at a 3% gradient. The last three kilometers feature a slightly uphill but steady climb.
We will also see an intermediate sprint at the 59 km point. Temperatures are expected to be warm, but relatively mild, around 20°C, with a moderate south-west wind of 20 km/h. The day is also expected to be cloudy with possible rain throughout.
This stage is expected to be challenging for the sprinters due to the hilly terrain, but if they can survive the climbs, it could potentially end in a bunch sprint. The undulating profile and weather conditions might also create opportunities for breakaways or echelons.
Much of the finish will come down to how the first half unfolds. If a strong, motivated breakaway group pushes the pace early, we could see a win from the break, but if no driven break holds off, we could see a slow-paced peloton as happened on Stage 6, and a bunch spring finish.
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