Stage 15: Samatan to Pau, 158.5km, rolling

As the final stretch before the final rest day, the riders will be grateful for a short, rolling stage through the Pyrenean foothills with only a smattering of small climbs. After yesterday’s tack-filled events, it should hopefully be a calm stage for the peloton – as close to a day off for the GC contenders as you get – with the sprinters taking control. They’ll be contending the intermediate sprint point as well as getting their trains on the track for a bunch sprint finish.

No doubt they’ll have to reel in a breakaway group before that, as this is one of those stages where teams that have been quiet for a while will want to make some noise for their sponsors. A determined group of rouleurs and Classics men could just make a break stick if they can hold off the peloton until a technical last few kilometres, which includes five roundabouts between 7km and 2km. I wouldn’t count on it, though.

Cycling the Alps’ interactive videos of the route can be found here.

Link: Official website