A fortified city that often favours sprinters, today’s stage – with its up-and-down terrain and positioning in the race between mountain stages – will surely excite anyone getting away in the break.
It was here in 2021 that Mark Cavendish equalled Eddy Merckx’s Tour de France stage wins record of 34, one which he remained stuck on until eclipsing it last year.
Pogačar's increasingly iron grip on the GC race is unlikely to be shaken on this stage, so who should you be looking out for? Read on.
Stage 15: Muret > Carcassonne
- Date: 20 July
- Distance: 169.3km
- Elevation gain: 2,400m
- Stage type: Hilly
Route profile
Route map
But it’s not Cavendish from whom today’s escapees will be taking inspiration, but Albert Bourlon and his efforts at the race’s first visit to the city in 1947.
Bourlon embarked on a mammoth solo breakaway of 253km on Stage 14, which started in Carcassonne, that still stands as the longest successful such break in post-war Tour history, winning in Luchon by over 16 minutes.
That he broke away on the start line might be inspiration too far for the modern peloton, unused to such audacity.
“The road to Carcassonne often favours the sprinters, but 2,400m of vertical gain in less than 170 kilometres could encourage the breakaway specialists,” says race director, Christian Prudhomme.
“The Côte de Saint-Ferréol on the road out of Revel and then the Pas du Sant (2.9km at 10%) could well provide them with the perfect opportunity to eliminate their rivals.
“After that, there’s 40 kilometres of gentle descent into the medieval city, with the possibility of a strong crosswind too!”
More on the Tour de France 2025
What's on in Carcassonne?
Carcassonne is famed for its mediaeval fortifications, a Unesco World Heritage site with 52 towers and two concentric outer walls. Built in the 17th Century, the 240km long Canal du Midi passes the town as it links the Garonne river in Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea.
As usual in the south of France, there are plentiful surrounding vineyards, with their own appellations. As with Toulouse, which lies just 100km away, truffles and cassoulet are on the menu, along with green Lucques olives.
One to watch: Mathieu van der Poel
On a stage that favours the break, nobody would want to be up against Mathieu van der Poel on the line.
Our eyes would also be on Visma–Lease a Bike's breakaway specialists, such as Victor Campanaerts, who will be hungry to bag a win for the squad.
