COURSE: On paper, this doesn’t look like a difficult stage. The highest point is only at 4500 feet elevation, but there are two very serious climbs in the last 60km and a summit finish.

The Col de l’Echarasson is 12km at 7.4 percent, the Col de Chalimont 10km at 6 percent, and the final 100km are on narrow, winding roads.

FAVORITES: Expect some surprise moves in this rugged terrain that could see the yellow jersey change hands. It’s the sort of stage that Alex Vinokourov or Tyler Hamilton could claim.

STAGE 15 July 20 Valréas - Villard-de-Lans (111.231mi/179km)

HISTORY: The most recent of five finishes at Villard-de-Lans, in 1990, saw Erik Breukink win an uphill time trial. The previous year, Laurent Fignon took a solo stage win that gave him a 50-second GC lead over Greg LeMond — who came back to win in Paris, by a scant eight second, the narrowest overall victory in Tour history.

VALRÉAS:
Starts: 3 (1987-94-98)
Finishes: 0

VILLARD-DE-LANS:
Starts: 2 (1986-93)
Finishes: 5 (1985-87-88-89-90)