Known as ‘Burgundy’s Golden Gateway’, Chablis is famous for its 10,000 acres of vineyards, which have produced white wine since the Middle Ages. It plays host to the St. Vincent festival each February, celebrating the patron saint of winemakers, and the Chablis wine festival each October.
The centre of the town was destroyed by air raids in the Second World War, but the ever-increasing popularity of the its most renowned export has helped the area mount a spectacular recovery.
Having wheeled out from wine country, the pelaton will encounter its first serious test of the tour. Stage five is packed with climbs and inclines and includes eight sprint trials and three ‘king of the mountains’. While the initial stages are all deemed ‘plain’ by the Tour guide, stage five is labeled a ‘medium mountain stage’.
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Riders will reach 867 metres in Haut-Folin, the highest town above sea level in the Burgundy region, before dropping over 500 metres in 40km to reach the finishing line in Autun. Their final destination was founded during the reign of Roman emperor Augustus and is situated in the middle of the Burgundy region. In an unlikely marriage, Autun is twinned with Stevenage.
Here’s the opinion of Jean-François Pescheux, Competition Director, on this challenging stage: “The peloton will cross Morvan, following a winding and hilly route, offering a mixture of rises and inclines, on their way to the finish line, where, this time the terrain could favour the fighters. Therefore, in Autun, we may see a small breakaway group battle for first place.”