The Marne sets the line for most of this stage. From Trilport, the route heads east for roughly 129 km, first low and close to the river, then more rolling through La Ferté-sous-Jouarre and Château-Thierry. After Dormans, Champagne stops being just a name on the map: vineyard slopes, pale villages, long straight roads and not much shade. Around Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, wine country sits right beside the road before the canal leads the final kilometres into Châlons-en-Champagne. Long, steady, and best ridden with discipline.
