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Tour de France Stage 12
Montpellier to Castres
178.5km
Start time: 12:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m. U.S. EST)
Estimated Finish time: 5:10 p.m. (11:10 a.m. U.S. EST)

LIVE TOUR TEXT by Cycling News

STAGE 12 MAP

COURSE: This stage is similar to the one from Narbonne to Toulouse in 2003 that went to the Spanish racer Juan Antonio Flecha, who made a late attack from a breakaway group. Look for a repeat on this similar course that heads through the hills on the southern edge of the Massif Central. The Cat. 2 Montée de la Jeante climbs to over 3000 feet and is followed by 40km of winding back roads before the fast 8km run-in to Castres.

HISTORY: Just one Tour stage has finished at Castres, in 1991, when Italian Bruno Cenghialta won stage 14 from St. Gaudens out of a seven-man break that fi nished a minute ahead of the pack. Castres is an ancient town of 45,000 on the Agout River about an hour east of Toulouse.

FAVORITES: This stage is one that could suit riders who are either defending a break for their team leaders (such as Predictor-Lotto’s Horner) or a non-climber trying to get a win for his team before the upcoming time trial and three mountain stages.

Riders falling in to this category include Juan Mercado (Agritubel), Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) and Flecha (Rabobank).

Climbs:
Km 27.5: Côte de Cantagal: 1.6 km climb @ 4.3 % grade / 4th Cat.
Km 58: Côte du Mas-Rouet: 2.4 km climb @ 4.3 % grade / 4th Cat.
Km 74.5: Col du Buis: 2.6 km climb @ 4.8 % grade / 4th Cat.
Km 130.5: Montée de la Jeante: 10.4 km climb @ 6.1 % grade / 2nd Cat.

Sprints:
Km 81.5: Herepian
Km 101: Olargues