After the gruelling Pyrenean stages, it could be a time for the sprinters to make an appearance. Remember them?

Friday 25th July: Stage 19 – Maubourguet Pays du Val d’Adour to Bergerac, flat, 208.5km

“Let them break,” we hear the GC riders say. “Let them break away never to get reeled back in!” Today’s stage is a long one after the gruelling mountain stages so it’s all about staying safe, saving energy and recovering in preparation for what could be a last-ditch effort tomorrow to cement that podium place. But it’s also the penultimate stage for the sprinters to shine, so expect it to get hot and heavy as the trains go barrelling after the break in anticipation of the flat run-in to the finish in Bergerac.

Equally, though, don’t be surprised if this turns out to be one of those seemingly random third week stages where a break full of riders from teams desperate to rescue their Tour with a win – Garmin-Sharp. Sky, Lampre-Merida, Orica-GreenEDGE, we’re looking at you – gets away and stays away. In this Tour of constant surprises, who knows?

Link: Official website

Header image: Statue of Cyrano de Bergerac in, um, Bergerac