Stage 12 of the Tour de France is one that both breakaway specialists and sprinters will have circled in their road books since the 203.6km route was announced last year. There is a lot of climbing in the two-thirds of the stage from Aurillac, but no major ascents and the reward of a flat finish into Villeneuve-sur-Lot should invigorate the sprint teams.
From a rolling start, the first of three category 4 climbs begins 62km later with the Côte d’Autoire (2.7km at 5.9%), then after another 20 kilometres ticks by they will tackle the Côte de Rocamadour (2km at 5.8%), which will be ridden in the opposite direction to the route taken by the 2022 Tour time trial.
The only intermediate sprint comes in Gourdon at the mid-point of the race, and 25km from the final categorised climb, the Côte de Montcléra (2km at 4.6%). That last chance for KOM points arrives with 68 kilometres to go, a long descent urging any breakaway to hit the gas as the sprint teams can begin to make inroads.
Stage 12 Sprints
- Intermediate sprint, km 110
Stage 12 Mountains
- Côte d’Autoire (2.7km at 5.9%), cat. 4, km 62.8
- Côte de Rocamadour (2km at 5.8%), cat. 4, km 84.3
- Côte de Montcléra (2km at 4.6%), cat. 4, km 135.5
-
'I'd like to try to do one as a leader' – Matteo Jorgenson reveals Grand Tour ambitions with Visma-Lease A Bike
'I would love to win a GC, but my main goal in the next year is to go back to winning a race and come across the finish line first somewhere' -
'The following Clubhouses will be closing before April 2026' - Rapha to shut a number of RCC venues as early as January 18th
This news comes as the brand reported an 8th loss-making year in a row in 2025 -
'Small percentages can make a huge difference' - What's the science behind cycling's long-range attacks?
From Tadej Pogačar’s long-range raids to Ben Healy’s solo masterclasses, the modern breakaway is undergoing a rapid transformation as more riders successfully go it alone -
'We need a transfer system like in football' – Picnic PostNL look to the future after losing Oscar Onley to Ineos Grenadiers
Max Poole to target Giro d'Italia GC as sprinter Fabio Jakobsen returns after iliac artery surgery
