The beautiful landscapes of the Cantal and Lot regions will not distract the breakaway specialists from their mission on Stage 12, knowing that there’s really something for them to play for… if they can outwit the sprinters and their teams.
The terrain on the 203.6km route from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot is all hills, with the climb to Rocamadour standing out. It will be tackled in the opposite direction to the route taken by the 2022 Tour time trial.
The second part of the stage is more suited to the sprinters’ teams that are set on chasing the break down. However, on two previous and similar stages into Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the breakaway managed to hold off its pursuers.
In 1996, victory went to veteran Italian Massimo Podenzana, 35, twice Italian champion, but taking part in only his second Tour de France. In 2000. it was Erik Dekker who raised his arms, and the least that can be said is that he deserved it, having already spent 427 km in breakaways since the start of that Tour.
If the sprinters teams can control the breakaway the final part and finish of the stage into Villeneuve-sur-Lot is certainly conducive to a bunch sprint in front of the awaiting crowds.
We can expect Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) to be active in defence of his green jersey, with the likes of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula) and Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) sure to be on the hunt for more glory.
It’s been a case of close but no cigar so far for Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) and he will be a contender, as will riders such as Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), Fabio Jakobsen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech), Arnaud Demare (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) and Byran Coquard (Cofidis).
