After three years, the Tour de France returns to the cobblestones of northeastern France on Wednesday. Race organizers are hoping that the introduction of longer sectors of cobblestones will create a time difference in the overall race.

After the chaotic scenes of 2010 and 2014, the Tour has enjoyed two mild visits to the cobblestones; a small scattering in 2015 followed by a more grueling trip to Roubaix in 2018, where despite a series of punctures and mishaps, the majority of the favorites to win finished together.

The total pavé distance for the 2022 event was slightly shorter than four years ago, 19.4 km vs. 21.7 km, but the number of sectors was significantly reduced from 15 to 15. However, the average length of the sectors is longer.

Most sectors are around the Tour standard of 1500m, but sectors 5, 4, and 3 (numbered in reverse order) stand out, at 2800m, 2400m, and 2400m, respectively.

"Every time in a flat area you try to find ways to liven up the race. Sometimes we look for wind near the coast, sometimes we look for cobblestones to liven up the first week of the race and create time differences," route director Thierry Gouvenoux told Cycling News.

"It's true that last time we didn't have so many gaps. So this year we want to ride longer sections. That's the big difference and that can change things. Longer sectors can cause splits, and I'm hoping for the first real time gap in the Tour on Wednesday in Allenberg."

The presence of cobblestones in the Tour de France has always divided opinion. While spectacle is expected, a momentary mishap, such as a crash or puncture, could change the race forever.

Quick Step Alfa Vinyl boss Patrick Lefebvre said cobblestones have no place in the Tour, while UAE Team Emirates DS Aart Vierhouten said Wednesday's second sector "has no place in any race."

"I have heard such rumors, but I don't understand them," Gouvenoux said. 'There are risks everywhere. There were risks on the Danish stage, and the start of the Tour is always a game of risks. The start of the Tour is always a game of risk.

"Stage 2 was quiet all day, but in the last 2km Pogachar hit a barrier. He scraped his knuckles, but could have broken his hand. You can't control these things."

"To take it to the extreme, you can't imagine a Tour de France without mountains. So I suggest a stage that suits them."

Moreover, the cobblestones serve another, more indirect purpose on the part of organizers seeking to open up the Tour. As Gouvenou explained, the GC teams bring riders who can handle the cobblestones, riders who are less useful in the high mountains.

"Another reason for doing this is that we need different types of teammates: one for wind, one for cobblestones, and so on. As a result, in the mountains you have fewer teammates.

"Less climbers in the mountains, less team support, is good for the Tour de France.