You leave Saulx-les-Chartreux behind as soon as the last houses give way to fields and country lanes. The way out is quiet and easy. The landscape is rolling and never really steep. The climbs are small, but they keep coming back.
What makes this day hard going is the distance: around 25 kilometres, almost 7 hours on the road. A steady pace will help you more than speed here. That way you’ll arrive in Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières feeling comfortable. Carry plenty of food with you and take a proper break halfway, so your legs still have something left for the last few kilometres.