Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 14: Punchy climbers, again!

Following stages 3, 8 and 13, the 14th stage provides yet another opportunity for the punchy climbers. In 3 kilometres the Côte de la Croix Neuve is the longest and the average grade at 10% is not for the faint of heart either. At the top it's 1.5 kilometres of pushing to the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

Renowned puncheurs in the Tour de France-peloton are Alejandro Valverde, Peter Sagan, Daniel Martin, Michal Kwiatkowski, Daniel Navarro, Alexis Vuillermoz and Joaquim Rodríguez. Alberto Contador also loves arrivals like this and if he can take time from his GC opponents he surely will seize the opportunity. As we’ve seen in stage 3 the same holds true for Chris Froome.

Greg Van Avermaet and Tim Wellens are Flemish contenders, while Michael Matthews dragged himself up the Cauberg in the wheel of an unleashed Gilbert in the 2015 Amstel Gold Race, so he is not without chance either. Another sprinter who does not shy away from climbs like Côte de la Croix Neuve is John Degenkolb.

*** Alejandro Valverde, Peter Sagan, Michal Kwiatkowski, Michael Matthews
** Daniel Martin, Joaquim Rodriguez, Greg Van Avermaet, Alexis Vuillermoz
* Tim Wellens, John Degenkolb, Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Daniel Navarro