The riders clip into their pedals in Aurillac. The small town on the River Jordanne was included fourteen times in the Tour de france. The last visit dates from 2011, when the 10th stage went from Aurillac to Jussac, where André Greipel took the spoils.
Sprinters are expected to suffer in the first 135 kilometres of the race, as there are several climbs to conquer. The Côte de Saint-Mamet-la-Salve is crested as early as kilometre 11 after an uphill of 3.6 kilometres at 3.9%. Following an undulating section and a 10 kilometres downhill the riders move through Saint-Céré, only to go up again. The Côte d’Autoire is 2.7 kilometres long and averaging 5.9%.
The Côte de Rocamadour (2 kilometres at 5.8%) and Côte de Couzou (1.7 kilometres at 6.3%, not classified) – both featured in the opposite direction in the ITT on the penultimate day of the 2022 Tour – are the last two climbs inside the first 90 kilometres. The route then continues as a false flat to Saint-Projet.
After the intermediate sprint in Gourdon, the riders head for the last KOM climb of the day: the Côte de Montcléra, which is 2 kilometres at 4.6%, with the summit almost 70 kilometres from the finish. The route remains undulating thereafter, but the toughest uphill sections are over.
An uphill section of 2 kilometres at 3% inside the last 10 kilometres could make or break a late attack (possibly from the breakaway) before a false flat downhill leads onto the final 5 kilometres of flat terrain.
Erik Dekker is the most recent Tour de France stage winner in Villeneuve-sur-Lot. In 2000, the Dutchman arrived solo to win the first of his four stages in Le Tour.
The first three riders across the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds.
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Another interesting read: results 12th stage 2024 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2024 stage 12: routes, profiles, videos
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