The 14th stage in the Tour de France is a two-faced race. The first 81.5 kilometres are flat and then the next 100 kilometres are packed with hills and rolling roads. On the whole, the route goes up in that last part, so it can be pretty exhaustive, although the course hardly takes in any steep ramps. That is, except for the finale as the arrival is atop Côte de Saint-Pierre. To win the stage you have to be well positioned at the foot of that 570 metres closing climb at 9.6%. And then the strongest uphill sprinter powers to glory.
The last 10 kilometres are played out on the same roads as stage 13 in the 2015 Tour de France. Wilco Kelderman was the last escapee to be reeled in halfway up the Côte de Saint-Pierre and the race came down to a Sagan/Van Avermaet clash. The reigning Olympic Champion outpowered the World Champion with the rest of the pack seconds in arrears.
Expect the puncheurs to showcase another thrilling finale in Rodez. It’s going to be extra exciting. Sagan may be out, but the field also features Gilbert, Matthews, and more…
The first punchy arrival was in stage 3, when Sagan took the win ahead of Michael Matthews, Daniel Martin and Greg Van Avermaet.
Favourites 14th stage 2017 Tour de France
*** Greg Van Avermaet, Philippe Gilbert, Michael Matthews
** Daniel Martin, Alexis Vuillermoz, Michal Kwiatkowski, Zdenek Stybar
* Daniel Moreno, John Degenkolb, Diego Ulissi, Michael Valgren, Jan Bakelants
Tour de France 2017 stage 14: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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Profile final kilometres 14th stage
Route final kilometres
Route and profile final 58 km
Details finish 14th stage
Start 14th stage in Blagnac 
Details start 14th stage
Profile intermediate sprint 14th stage
Details intermediate sprint 14th stage
