Every stage is the same tug-of-war: a few riders escape early, and the question is whether they stay away.
How a day gets won
the break
the bunch (peloton)
GC favourites
Flat — sprint day
Lumpy — break day
Summit — GC day
Km 0: a handful of riders attack — that’s the break.
Why it goes this way
On flat roads, riders behind save around a third of their effort by drafting — a whole peloton can always outpace a small group. And with a sprint win on offer, the sprinters’ teams are happy to do the chasing.
62% of 100 days like it ended in a bunch sprint
GC = general classification — the overall race, decided on total time across every stage. GC favourites save their bullets for days where terrain makes big time gaps: summit finishes, long climbs. The break gets its freedom everywhere else — and keeps the win only when nobody profits from chasing.
About
parcours is an independent viewer for pro cycling's routes — every stage's elevation profile, what history says about days shaped like it, and your call on how it goes. Made by one fan. Not affiliated with ASO, RCS Sport, or the UCI.