Tour 2015: Stage 14 Rodez > Mende

178.5 km | Saturday July 18 | Start 12:35 – Finish 17:00 CET

STAGE FACT
Today’s route runs just a little bit north of that of the Tour de Mont Aigoual, the fictional race at which Tim Krabbe’s classic book The Rider is set.


Alow-key airfield situated high above the Massif Central town of Mende is the unlikely location for repeat visits from the Tour. But they’ve kept coming back here every 5 years since the relatively local Laurent Jalabert sealed two Bastille Day victories here in 1995 and 2000. In fact the Côte de la Croix Neuve climb up to the airfield has been semi-officially renamed in his honour

What’s the Montée Laurent Jalabert like?
It’s a second-category number, short and steep, averaging 10% over 3 winding kilometres. Joaquim "Purito" Rodríguez attacked to get the win last time the Tour visited in 2010. 

What else is on the way?
The roads are heavy going in the Massif Central, continually up and down. But then the race drops into the Tarn Valley for 80 km, passing beneath the 343 m high viaduct at Millau before very gradually winding its way between the spectacular cliffs of the river’s gorge. The second-cat Côte de Sauveterre finally lifts the route away from the Tarn and there’s a quick fourth-cat climb before the fireworks start at Mende.

What will happen?
It’s a bit too special to be simply be considered a transition day given that the final climb suits a very certain style of rider — the explosive climber who might also have figured at Huy and Mûr de Bretagne. Nonetheless, an early break may be allowed the slip. Although the Tour won’t be won or lost here, the final climb is severe enough for swordplay between the contenders. Unless something goes drastically wrong the time differences will be seconds rather than minutes.

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