When the Tour goes to the medieval city of Carcassonne, the stage victory is often played in print, as in 2021, when Mark Cavendish had won his 34e Success on the big loop, thus equaling Eddy Merckx. This year, it could be otherwise during the fifteenth stage.
After the real departure at the Muret (Haute-Garonne), at 1:30 p.m., Sunday July 20, the peloton will head east to cross the Tarn to the south of Castres, before initiating its descent to Carcassonnne (Aude) on more than 40 kilometers, confronting three difficulties during the crossing of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park.
During the last hundred kilometers of the stage, which includes 169.3, the profile is rugged. The runners will first climb the coast of Saint-Ferréol (1.7 kilometer to 7 %, 3e category) at kilometer 71, then that of Sorèze (6.2 kilometers at 5.5 %, 3e category), ten kilometers further. Finally, the Sant Pas (2.9 kilometers to 10.2 %, 2e category) will take care of a little more things, before the long descent towards the arrival in Carcassonne.
Throughout the route, the teams engaged in the 112nd edition of the Tour will have to be wary of a possible side wind, which could split the peloton into several groups.
In these circumstances, some isolated runners within a breakaway can hope to play victory. The backpackers will have an ideal profile in front of them to punctuate the race. Especially if, at the exit of the Pyrenees, the main leaders decide to leave some crumbs to the others.
