Newcomers to the sport of professional road cycling may have heard the term Queen Stage of the Tour and wondered what the commentators were talking about.
Queen stage refers to the defining stage of a multi-stage race and incorporates the climbs up the most gruelling of mountain passes. This is the stage in which the true contenders for overall GC honours put their stamp on the race and make their big move. Alternatively, it's sometimes the stage in which some of the pre-race favourites fold like cheap suits and limp over the line many minutes behind the stage winner and their hopes of GC victory in tatters.
