Because there is no prologue this year (for the first time since 1966), the Tour begins with this nasty-looking stage through the green (and often rain-lashed) hills of Brittany. It starts from the naval port of Brest, the westernmost city in France (population 145,000), and traces a sinuous course with the prevailing winds to the village of Plumelec (population 2,500), not far from Vannes, which was once the capital of an independent Brittany. Besides four Cat. 4 climbs, the stage features dozens of other nagging hills, three intermediate point-bonus sprints, and an uphill finish on the infamous Côte de Cadoudal — 2km at 5-percent, with an 8-percent pitch just before a right-hand switchback 300 meters from the line.