Starts 12.35pm (BST) following a short 10-minute neutral zone.
Race ends between 4.19pm and 4.41pm
Cycling fans are looking forward to a thrilling Friday as Tour De France enters Day Seven (stage 7)- the pedaling on a mostly flat circuit will last 168km long journey from Millau to Lavaur.
The race organisers say the stage will conclude anytime between 4.19pm and 4.41pm. Timings are based on the fastest (45kmh) and slowest (41kmh) estimated speed.
Those who know this route well observe that in the areas of Aveyron and Tarn where one doesn’t quite know what “flat” means, the roads are never easy. Other than the hilly course, before visiting Castres, the plans of the sprinters’ teams could be troubled by the wind that can be very strong in the region.
Quick Info on Kick off Town of Millau
Population: 22,800 (Millavois), 30,600 in the Community of communes Millau Grands Causses (15 communes).
Economy: Known for more than a century as the capital of leather and gloves, Millau remains reputed for its leather gloves, made by the Fabre and Causse companies. Agriculture (Roquefort). Shops, markets.
Culture: Millau Jazz Festival (July), Bonheur d’Hiver Festival (December), Minerals exchange and mart (July), Night markets (July), Farm products Autumn fair (November).
Specialties: aligot (mash and cheese), estofinade, Roquefort, Fleur d’Aubrac (meat), Aveyron veal, spit cake, farçous, truffade (truffle omelette), fouace, soleil de Marcillac, tripous, trénels, cheese soup, flaune, échaudés…
Millau & Cycling: Left out of the Tour route for 28 years, Millau was back on the map in 2018 for the start of a stage to Carcassonne won by Dane Magnus Cort Nielsen before the rest day. While Ferdi Kubler was the first winner of a tour stage in Millau in1954, the prefecture of Aveyron really made the headlines in 2004 with the inauguration of the highest viaduct in the world. The peloton has since approached the viaduct a number of times while riding along the Tarn that the concrete giant crosses at more than 230 metres.
Finish-line Town of Lavaur
Population: 11,200(Vauréens)
Slogan: Ville cathare, capitale du Pays de Cocagne (Cathac city, capital of the Land of Cocagne)
Labels: two flower fleurs, « Ville active et sportive », « Terre de jeux 2024 », 2nd most sporting town in France in 2014 (L’Equipe), 1st town of under 20,000 in France for disabled sports.
Tour de France goes to Lavaur every ten years. A first stage starting in Pau was won by Rik Verbrugghe – now the Belgian team selector – in 2011 while, ten years later, the unavoidable Mark Cavendish won the bunch sprint for one of his five wins in the 2011 editions.
In 2001, Laurent Jalabert seized the polka-dot jersey and kept it all the way to Paris.
Further back in time, when the Criterium International took place in Tarn, Jalabert had already made it on the podium in Lavaur. He finished third in the days’ time trial won by Pascal Lance, now a driver for the race direction, but “Jaja”, who had won the first two stages of the triptych, clinched the overall win.
source https://taarifa.rw/stage7-from-millau-to-lavaur-tour-de-france-2020/
