Course: At 153.5km, this is the 2005 Tour’s second shortest road stage, but certainly not the easiest. The climbs aren’t particularly difficult, but the roads are often narrow and twisting, the perfect ingredients for another breakaway. There’s a fast downhill toward Le Puy before a final short, up-and-down loop into the backside of town.

History: Only two Tour stages have finished at Le Puy. The last time, in 1996, the stage went to the Swiss Pascal Richard, who went on to take the following month’s Olympic title in Atlanta.

Stage 19 - Issoire to Le Puy-en-Velay >153.5km

Favorites: Teams yet to win a stage will be going for the victory, which could go to a Dutchman like Dekker or Rabobank teammate Karsten Kroon. But it should go to whomever is the hungriest and not too bothered about the following day’s time trial.