Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran is a tribute to two famous Frenchmen who died towards the end of last year. The race will pass through St-Léonard-de-Noblat, the village of Raymond Poulidor, the man who made the podium of the Tour de France eight times and remained a GC contender until his 40s without ever wearing the yellow jersey for a single. It will end in Sarran in the Corrèze department that used to be the feud of former President Jacques Chirac who visited the Tour de France when he led the country. It can also be a very interesting stage on a lumpy terrain, particularly in its finale. The cat. 2 Suc au May climb, with 26km to go, is suitable for action. Typically, this is a stage for what the French call the “baroudeurs”, the attackers from a long way out who never give up.
