Stage 8 Semur-en-Auxois - Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (183.4km)
Do the breakaway riders outsmart the sprinters in Côte-d’Or?
The eighth stage of the Tour de France is classified by ASO as a flat stage, but a quick glance at the route makes the sprinters ponder. A whopping 2300 meters of elevation gain await in the stage from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, covering seven categorized climbs over 176 kilometers. None of the climbs are excessively long or steep, but their accumulation could favor the adventurous riders.
On day eight, the cyclists continue through Burgundy. In the Côte-d’Or department, Semur-en-Auxois sets the stage for the start. In medieval times, the village thrived, perched atop a hill overlooking the Armançon River, making it a formidable fortress.
Today, this medieval history is commemorated annually with the Course de la Bague, or 'Race for the Ring'. Riders race through the village center over a two-kilometer course, with the winner receiving a golden signet ring. This race has been held since 1639, making it France's oldest race.
The riders, in turn, will embark on their bikes towards the debutante Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Leaving Burgundy behind, they arrive in a town characterized - surprisingly - by churches. Today, the village boasts nine churches, and it's where former President Charles de Gaulle found his final resting place. A year after his retirement, De Gaulle retreated to his estate at La Boisserie. Today, the estate, along with his memorial, is open to visitors in this small town.
En route, the riders will encounter numerous hills. In the first fifty kilometers alone, they face the Côte de Vitteaux (3.2 km at 5.7%), Côte de Villy-en-Auxois (2.7 km at 5.4%), and Côte de Verrey-sous-Salmaise (3.6 km at 5.1%). The next fifty kilometers are also far from flat, with the next climb appearing around the hundred-kilometer mark: the Côte de Santenoge (1.5 km at 6.9%), demanding an extra effort from the sprinters.
Following the Côte de Bay-sur-Aube (2.7 km at 4.7%) and the Côte de Giey-sur-Aujon (1.4 km at 7.0%), the riders have about fifty kilometers remaining, with most of the climbing done. Along flat to rolling roads, the sprint teams will assess their leader's condition. Is he still fresh? About fifteen kilometers before the finish, a final challenge awaits in the form of the Côte de Eufigneix (2.2 km at 4.5%), before reaching the finish in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Will it be breakaway specialists, strong sprinters, or perhaps a mass sprint in this 'flat' stage? All scenarios are on the table.
| Date | Saturday 06 July |
| Start |  Semur-en-Auxois |
| Finish | Colombey-les-Deux-Églises |
| Distance | 183.4 km |
| Start time | 13:05 |
| Expected finish | 17:19 |
Stage 8 Semur-en-Auxois - Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (183.4km)
Do the breakaway riders outsmart the sprinters in Côte-d’Or?
The eighth stage of the Tour de France is classified by ASO as a flat stage, but a quick glance at the route makes the sprinters ponder. A whopping 2300 meters of elevation gain await in the stage from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, covering seven categorized climbs over 176 kilometers. None of the climbs are excessively long or steep, but their accumulation could favor the adventurous riders.
On day eight, the cyclists continue through Burgundy. In the Côte-d’Or department, Semur-en-Auxois sets the stage for the start. In medieval times, the village thrived, perched atop a hill overlooking the Armançon River, making it a formidable fortress.
Today, this medieval history is commemorated annually with the Course de la Bague, or 'Race for the Ring'. Riders race through the village center over a two-kilometer course, with the winner receiving a golden signet ring. This race has been held since 1639, making it France's oldest race.
The riders, in turn, will embark on their bikes towards the debutante Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Leaving Burgundy behind, they arrive in a town characterized - surprisingly - by churches. Today, the village boasts nine churches, and it's where former President Charles de Gaulle found his final resting place. A year after his retirement, De Gaulle retreated to his estate at La Boisserie. Today, the estate, along with his memorial, is open to visitors in this small town.
En route, the riders will encounter numerous hills. In the first fifty kilometers alone, they face the Côte de Vitteaux (3.2 km at 5.7%), Côte de Villy-en-Auxois (2.7 km at 5.4%), and Côte de Verrey-sous-Salmaise (3.6 km at 5.1%). The next fifty kilometers are also far from flat, with the next climb appearing around the hundred-kilometer mark: the Côte de Santenoge (1.5 km at 6.9%), demanding an extra effort from the sprinters.
Following the Côte de Bay-sur-Aube (2.7 km at 4.7%) and the Côte de Giey-sur-Aujon (1.4 km at 7.0%), the riders have about fifty kilometers remaining, with most of the climbing done. Along flat to rolling roads, the sprint teams will assess their leader's condition. Is he still fresh? About fifteen kilometers before the finish, a final challenge awaits in the form of the Côte de Eufigneix (2.2 km at 4.5%), before reaching the finish in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Will it be breakaway specialists, strong sprinters, or perhaps a mass sprint in this 'flat' stage? All scenarios are on the table.