Stage


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July 16 post: Stage 15 is a flat stage with on major categorized climb from Limoux to Montpellier, a frequent stage host town strategically located between the Alps and Pyrenees. Robbie McEwen and Robbie Hunter were the last winners of road stages in Montpellier in 2005 and 2007, respectively.

In 2009, Montpellier hosted a windy, technical team time trial (photos). The 2007 stage to Montpellier was also highly impacted by the coastal winds of the Mediterranean Sea. That year the peloton split in half with the last half finishing more than three minutes behind a 80 man break. The same thing happened with the 2009 stage from Marseille to La Grande-Motte when Alberto Contador was caught out by the move and lost 41 seconds.

So the wind (and heat) could be a big factor on this 193 km stage, but with Monday being a rest day teams like HTC-Highroad will be willing to work extra hard to set up a sprint finish. On paper this stage looks like one for the sprinters, but the GC contenders will need to be attentive. — Steve with contributions from Lizzie.

2007: Hunter makes history in Montpellier madness — cyclingnews