After three days of high Pyrenean high-jinks for the GC and breakaway bandits, today should see the action swing back towards the sprinters and green jersey contenders.

Friday 17th July: Stage 13 – Muret to Rodez, flat, 198.5km

Stage 13 profile: Tour de France 2015

The 198.5km route is certainly flatter but still too jagged for the pure sprinters, I suspect.The intermediate sprint comes just before the halfway point and marks the transition to a final 100km back-loaded with climbs of varying toughness. La Primaube summits at 10km from the finish line and will no doubt be ridden at pace. After that there’s a downhill and a tricky run in through Rodez to negotiate before a ferocious final 600m at nearly 10%.

It’s a one hard to call: it could be a day for the breakaway, but I think the puncheurs and sprinters will want their shot at glory, Watch out for Peter Sagan, it should be a finish to suit him – he has to get one at some point!

Link: Official race website

Header image: Rodez via Wikipedia