Tour de France 2017 live stream: Time, TV schedule, and route for Stage 5

The 2017 Tour de France thus far has been defined by a lot nonsense — the crash that took down Alejandro Valverde, the elbow of Peter Sagan, and a terrifying early show of Sky’s dominance. These are the things that will seem like funny, distant memories in a little less than three weeks — for today, Stage 5, the serious work begins.

La Planche des Belles Filles is the site of the first of a scant three mountain-top finishes on the 2017 route. The final climb isn’t very long — just over one kilometer — but it is steep, earning it a proper Category 1 rating. It averages out to a hefty 8.5 percent gradient, and the last 300 meters are particularly devious, maxing out at 22 percent along the way.

Stage 5 is the first must-watch Stage of the Tour. Racing begins at approximately 7:20 a.m. ET. NBCSN will broadcast the stage on television beginning at 7:30 a.m. To watch online, you can go to NBCSports.com or download the NBC Sports app if you have a cable subscription. If not, you’ll need to purchase NBC Sports Gold, which cuts out commercials and provides commentary and race tracking for the price.

Wednesday will be the first time we get to see who is on form to challenge Chris Froome for the yellow jersey. Stage 5 is far from the most decisive stage — much longer, more grueling climbs are on the horizon — but there will be a lot to read in the body language of the riders. Richie Porte is supposedly the next betting favorite to win. He has been aggressive so far, but he hasn’t had a chance to mount an attack that means something.

Then there’s a host of other really good climbers — Romain Bardet, Nairo Quintana, Rafal Majka, Fabio Aru, Thibaut Pinot, et al. Any one is capable of sniping the finish here, especially when you consider that, as true favorites, Froome and Porte may not quite be ready to show their cards.

Planche de Belles Filles has had a lot of recent significant in the Tour. Froome won there in 2012 as a super-domestique for Bradley Wiggins, and Vincenzo Nibali won there in 2014 on his way to winning the yellow jersey. Oh and in case you were curious about the name of the finish town ... (via Podium Cafe)

The name La Planche des Belle Filles (plank of the beautiful girls) comes from an episode in the 30 years war in 1635 when according to legend the young girls of a neighbouring village hid themselves up this mountain to escape the cruel Swedish mercenaries who were stationed nearby at Plancher-les-mines. To escape abuse and probable massacre they preferred to commit suicide by jumping from a plank into the black waters of a lake on the plateau.

... well there you are.

Images courtesy the Tour’s official site.

Start time: 7:20 a.m. ET (approx.)

Route: 160.5 kilometers from Vittel to La Planche de Belles Filles

TV: NBCSN, beginning at 7:30 a.m. a.m.

Streaming: NBCSports.com or NBC Sports app beginning at 7:30 a.m. (cable subscription required); or NBC Sports Gold (separate subscription required) beginning at 7 a.m.