Today it’s the longest stage of this year’s Tour. The riders have to cover 223.5 kilometres between Seraing and Cambrai. Just like last year they get a cobblestone stage in the first week, but the weather conditions are better now. Will GC riders lose time again? Will the cobblestone specialists set the best results? Jens Debusschere was ninth in Paris-Roubaix this season and is looking forward to this stage.

“At Lotto Soudal we have enough riders that don’t mind to ride this stage, like Bak, Gallopin, Sieberg, Greipel and me. Of all stages this might be the one that suits me best. We have several options. When we get to the finish with a group, André is our man for the sprint. Tony is fourth on GC and I can sprint if André isn’t part of the first group anymore or I could counter an attack of one of the specialists. We have to race aggressively, it’s not an option to be riding in the background. The distance and wind will be important factors, but I’m curious to see what will happen today," he said.