After a short Stage 13 through the Pyrenees mountains, which covered only 100 kilometers, Stage 14 will head to lower altitudes on a 181.5 kilometer route from the suburban town of Blagnac, outside of Toulouse, to the small Aveyron city of Rodez.
Riders will depart from Blagnac, and are expected to take the first half of the stage out at a high tempo.
The first 80 kilometers of Stage 13 feature low altitude riding with no significant climb. The field will reach the first, and only, intermediate sprint of the stage 55 kilometers from the start at the commune of Rabastens.
As riders approach Rabastens, they will face a punchy climb in the final kilometer before the intermediate sprint line. Watch for riders such as Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) to be battling on the climb to Rabastens, as these sprinters continue to fight for all available sprint points to go towards the points classification while they attempt chase to capture the green jersey from current points classification leader Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors).
25 kilometers after the peloton passes through the intermediate sprint checkpoint in Rabastens, the climbing will come into play for the first time on the stage.
Riders will begin their ascent with 100 kilometers to go and quickly make their way up to the town of Senouillac.
For the next 48 kilometers, the field will gradually ascend to the foot of the first of two category 3 climbs of the day up the Cote du viaduc du Viaur.
After a 2.3 kilometer trip at a 7% average gradient, riders will reach the summit of the Cote du viaduc du Viaur before descending into Le Navech.
From Le Navech, the field will make their final categorized climb of the day, which involves another 2.3 kilometer ascent that rises 200 meters in altitude at a 7.7% average incline.
The final 35 kilometers will involves navigating undulating hills, as a tricky finish is in store for the peloton.
With 5 kilometers to the finish line, riders will descend 100 meters over 4 kilometers before reaching the final 1 kilometer to the line.
The final kilometer of Stage 14 will present riders will a punchy climb that gains 40 meters before they reach the finishing line on the Cote de Saint-Pierre in Rodez.
Stage 14 will be another day for the general classification contenders, and expect Fabio Aru (Astana), Chris Froome (Team Sky), Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) to once again be playing a tactical game in the front of the field. All four riders were in the chase group during the second half of Stage 13, as they traded turns putting in surges in an attempt to put a gap on the rest of the group. No challenges stuck however, and the group crossed the line in Foix together, allowing for no change in the overall standings among the top four places.
Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) made a move inside the last 10 kilometers on Stage 13, and was able to gain 10 seconds back on the top four in the general classification. While this move did not skyrocket Martin up the general classification standings, it started to chip away at the gap and was a major statement from the Irish rider, that he was still fighting for a podium spot. Martin is a gutsy rider, and will more than likely be pushing out a big effort once again on Stage 14 to hold his place near the top of the general classification and continue to be within striking distance of the Maillot Jaune.
Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) was another rider we saw make a big move on Stage 13. Yates was dropped by the chase group on the grueling 18% gradient section of the Mur de Peguere, but found his rhythm on the descent to Foix and was able to reconnect with the chase group before matching Dan Martin's move in the final kilometers to gain back 10 seconds on the general classification leaders. Yates currently holds the white jersey as the best young rider, and is in his own competition with UAE Team Emirates rider Louis Meintjes in the best young rider classification. Meintjes looked to be the stronger rider on the day, as Yates was dropped by the chase pack on the climb to the summit of the Mur de Peguere, but Meintjes was the one in the end who lost time in the best young rider classification. Meintjes ended up losing 10 additional seconds to Yates on Stage 13, as Yates was able to make the move with Martin in the closing kilometers while Meintjes was unable to respond.
Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) could also be looking for a victory on Stage 14 after coming up short on Stage 13. Contador took home the title of most aggressive rider on Stage 13 after making the first attack and riding in the lead with Team Sky rider Mikel Landa before the duo were joined by eventual stage winner Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar). The veteran Spanish rider sits in 10th place overall after Stage 13, and over 5' back of Fabio Aru and Chris Froome, but appeared determined to prove he is still in this year's Tour to compete for a podium spot and looking for a stage victory or two along the way. After his hard-fought effort on Stage 13, look for Contador to back that up on Stage 14 with another go at the stage victory.
Other riders to keep an eye on throughout Stage 14 include Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Louis Meintjes, George Bennett (Lotto NL-Jumbo), Mikel Landa, Pierre Latour (AG2R La Mondiale), and Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal).
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