COURSE: This stage is a straight shot along the coastal plain of the Mediterranean. The main difficulties will probably be the heat, the Mistral wind and perhaps the speed, should the sprinters get a scent of victory. The race could split up in the crosswinds.

FAVORITES: Look for good results from tough men like Stuart O’Grady,Jakob Piil, Thor Hushovd and Leon Van Bon, all of whom can out-sprint abreakaway group or do well in a field sprint.

STAGE 14 July 18 Carcassonne - Nîmes (124.280mi/200km)

HISTORY: The last of 14 stages to finish in Nîmes camein 1986, when the stage also started at Carcassonne. But that was on ahilly course 40km longer than this year’s. The stage was won in a breakawayby Belgian sprinter Frank Hoste ahead of Italian Silvano Contini.

In 1951, the Belgian André Rosseel triumphed on the velodromein Carcassonne.

CARCASSONNE:
Starts: 1 (1986)
Finishes: 4 (1947-51-62-81)

NÎMES:
Starts: 0
Finishes: 14 (1905-07-08-09-10-25-35-36-37-49-50-53-58-86)