Gary Imlach and Chris Boardman present highlights of stage two which starts at the departmental capital Saint-Lo, a town flattened during World War II and dubbed 'The Capital of the Ruins' by the playwright Samuel Beckett. The peloton heads north east across the Cherbourg Peninsula to the commercial, ferry and military port at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on the English Channel. The final 1.9km of the stage ramp up to 6.5 per cent, which will suit uphill sprint specialists like Valverde, Gilbert or Gerrans. Commentary by Ned Boulting and David Millar with Daniel Friebe reporting from the roadside.

Gary Imlach and Chris Boardman present highlights of stage four the longest stage of this year's race. It takes the riders from beautiful, historical Saumur on the Loire River, southeast to monumental Limoges, a distance of 237.5km. On paper, the stage suits sprinters like Kittel, Greipel, or Cavendish, but beware sidewinds and the unexpected effects of the very long distance. Commentary by Ned Boulting and David Millar with Daniel Friebe reporting from the roadside.