Tour de France 2018: Stage 15 preview
Millau - Carcassonne, 181.5km
This is another day for the controversial Laurent Jalabert – now a commentator on France Télévisions – to be remembered as the race will pass through his native town of Mazamet before tackling the 12.3km-long Pic de Nore, which in the 1990s was often the decisive climb at the Critérium du Dauphiné – known then as the Critérium International.
The local rider in the Tarn department nowadays is Direct Energie's Lilian Calmejane, who won stage 8 to Les Rousses in his first Tour de France participation last year. Calmejane is a favourite for stage 15, which should be a popular stage given that it's on TV on a Sunday afternoon.
It's another day for a breakaway – arguably even more so than the previous day. Twenty kilometres of false-flat downhill could make the finale very eventful.
The medieval citadel of Carcassonne will offer some of the best helicopter shots at this 105th edition of the Tour de France. Although it's appeared on the race as a stage start in recent years, the last time Carcassonne hosted a stage finish was in 2006, when the stage was won by Yaroslav Popovych. On that occasion, a stunning live light and sound show that night celebrated the Tour's arrival, and remains one of the Tour's best-ever sideshows.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
McMullen, Brants, Cummins among track performers adding power to Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 in new year
US-based women's team extends sponsorship with Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge and begins 20th season in 2025 -
'We've got two weeks' - Former WorldTour rider hoping to launch new British Continental team for 2025
Harry Tanfield is on the search for sponsors in aim to meet tight British Cycling deadline -
At 75% off, this Peacock Black Friday deal might be the cheapest way to watch the 2025 Tour de France
Peacock's Black Friday 75% off deal nets you a year's worth of pro cycling for $19.99, or just $1.99 per month for 6 months -
Cyber Monday tech deals for cyclists: Save on GPS computers, smart trainers and power meters
Whether you're riding indoors or out, these are our favourite tech deals on cycling this Cyber Monday