Secrets of Rætikon

Description

Dreux to Amiens

Stage 8 - Saturday, 14 July - 181 km (112 mi)

The Stage

This stage starts and finishes earlier than normal because of the football world cup.

Today is Bastille Day and you can bet French riders will do anything in their power to be in the breakaway today. Probably to no avail as we head to another bunch sprint. The big question; will there be one sprinter with lots of victories or will we have a more interesting year where the loot gets divided more evenly? Arnaud Démare is from around these parts.

Winner: Dylan Groenewegen!

Tour Touristique

The Château d'Anet was built by Philibert de l'Orme from 1547 to 1552 for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henry II of France. It was a gift from the king and was built on the former château at the center of the domains of Diane's deceased husband, Louis de Brézé, seigneur d'Anet, Marshal of Normandy and Master of the Hunt.

The château is especially noted for its exterior, notably the statues of Diane de Poitiers as Diana, goddess of the hunt, by Jean Goujon and the relief by Benvenuto Cellini over the portal. Anet was the site of one of the first Italianate parterre gardens centered on the building's facade in France; the garden-designer in charge was Jacques Mollet, who trained his son at Anet, Claude Mollet, destined to become royal gardener to three French kings.

Why not take the train in the Eure valley just like at the end of the 19th century? Come and see the train station in Pacy-sur-Eure, decorated in the style of the period. The Chemin de Fer de la Vallée de l'Eure (Eure Valley Railway) offers rides in heritage trains for a scenic journey in the valley along the former railway line Rouen-Chartres-Orléans

View attached image.