This 204.5km route across rolling terrain northeast of Paris ends on similar roads as those raced every March on the opening stage of the Critérium International — which usually ends in a field sprint. After a flat opening alongside the Marne River, most of the action will take place at the time-bonus sprints in Jaulgonne (43km), Avançon (128km) and Amagne (149km), and the Cat. 4 hills at La Charmel (46km) and Longwé (169.5km).
7/7/2003 Start Time: 12:15:00PM
7/7/2003 Estimated Finish Time: 5:24:00PM
HISTORY
This is the first time a Tour stage has ended in Sedan, but neighboring Charleville has seen 13 finishes, the last time in 1969 when Belgian sprinter Eric Leman won a mass sprint.
