Alexandro Valverde is following a rather unusual race schedule this season as he aims to undergo optimal preparations towards the one of his last shots for the Tour de France podium spot. Thus, the in-form Spaniard will lead the Movistar team in the Dwars door Vlaanderen on coming Wednesday to get a taste of pave before hitting the cobbles during the fifth stage of the French grand tour, expected to be the one of those where the whole race could be lost.

Even though the Flemish event won’t provide Valverde with a chance to try his legs on the famous Paris-Roubaix pave sections to feature in this year’s Tour de France, the stretches of cobbles between the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg will certainly make up for some tough racing giving the Movistar rider a taste of what he should expect in July.

Imanol Erviti, John Gadret, Benat Intxausti, Juan José Lobato, Jasha Süttherlin and Fran Ventoso will complete Movistar’s roster for Dwars door Vlaanderen and the telephone squad is expected to line up in the E3 Harelbeke on Friday with the same team.

The highly anticipated fifth stage of the Tour de France, to take place on July 9th, marks the return of cobbles to the French grand tour and will feature a nine sections of pave in total length of 15.4 km on the route between Ypres and Arenberg. Even though the Tour contenders will be deprived of the opportunity to negotiate the hardest five-star pave sectors known from Paris-Roubaix, the stretches of cobbles including legendary albeit shortened Carrefour de l'Arbre as the first and Wallers as last only seven from the finish line are expected to wreck havoc in the peloton and reveal first big loosers of this year’s event.

Stage 5: Ypres - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 156 km

(pave sections)

Km. 87 Carrefour de l'Arbre (1,1 km)
Km. 96,5 Pont-Thibault (1,4 km)
Km. 103,5 Mons en Pevele (1 km)
Km. 110 Bersée (1,4 km)
Km. 125,5 Beuvry-la-Foret (1,4 km)
Km 131 Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (2,4 km)
Km. 135 Warlaing (1,4 km)
Km. 140 Hornaing (3,7 km)
Km. 149 Wallers (1,6 km)