After the first rest day, the Tour de France resumes with a short but punchy 157km loop around Toulouse. The route is littered with short climbs, particularly in the final 50km, which could derail the sprinters and open the door for a successful breakaway. For the fast finishers still in the race, however, this may be the last real chance before the Pyrenees arrive.
There are five categorised climbs in total, culminating with the Côte de Pech David (0.8km at 12.4%) just 9km from the line. While not long, it’s steep enough to launch attacks or drop the less versatile sprinters. The finish itself is technical, with a roundabout and sweeping left turn in the final kilometre. Positioning and timing will be everything if a group arrives together.
The route – rolling and tactical around Toulouse
Starting and finishing in Toulouse, the route never ventures far from the city. The first 100km are relatively uneventful, with a flat opening hour before the riders hit the intermediate sprint at Labastide-Beauvoir. From there, things get increasingly difficult.
The final 50km feature a series of climbs that will make life difficult for the big sprinters. The Côte de Montgiscard (cat. 4), Côte de Corronsac (cat. 4), and Côte de Vieille-Toulouse (cat. 4) arrive in quick succession. The final two ascents, Côte de Vieille-Toulouse and Côte de Pech David, are both steep and short, well-suited to puncheurs or attackers from a break.
In recent years, Toulouse has delivered sprints, with Caleb Ewan (2019) and Mark Cavendish (2008) among the past winners here. But this route is significantly tougher, and teams with puncheurs or strong all-rounders may sense an opportunity to foil a sprint train.
What’s on offer
Date: Wednesday, 16th July
Distance: 157km
Start/Finish: Toulouse – Toulouse
Sprint:
- Labastide-Beauvoir (km 97.3)
Climbs:
- Côte de Castelnau-d’Estrétefonds (cat. 4, km 25.9)
- Côte de Montgiscard (cat. 4, km 111.6)
- Côte de Corronsac (cat. 4, km 117)
- Côte de Vieille-Toulouse (cat. 4, km 142.5)
- Côte de Pech David (cat. 3, km 148)
Prediction
With the climbs stacked late in the stage and many sprint teams looking to conserve for the mountains, a breakaway could be allowed to go. Mathieu van der Poel has shown his form and versatility already this Tour, and this is the kind of stage where he can win from a small group or solo move. We think the break will stay away and Van der Poel will take his second win of the race.
