The race continues with the first stage which starts and ends in the city of Heraklion. It is the longest route (187.7 km) of this year's Tour, an anti-clockwise circle within the regional unit of Heraklion. A very demanding stage for those fighting for the blue jersey will surely push the riders to their limits since it is the one with the highest altitude (2,561m). TV coverage will convey images of unique natural beauty, including bits of the two most important centres of the Minoan civilization, Phaistos and Knossos.