| Stage | 14 |
|---|---|
| Type | Mountain Stage |
| Date | Saturday, 17 July 2027 |
| Route | Montpellier → Mende |
| Distance | 199 km |
| Elevation | 4,300 m |
Mende is a puncheur's finish with general classification consequences. The gaps on the Croix Neuve are measured in seconds, but they are seconds a contender cannot win back easily, and the climbing before it means nobody arrives fresh.
The climb produces a story every time. Steve Cummings beat Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot here in 2015, and Australia's Michael Matthews won the last Mende finish in 2022, the same day Jonas Vingegaard held off an acceleration from Tadej Pogačar.
From Montpellier the race climbs the Col du Vent, 8.4 km at 5.8%, then heads into the Cirque de Navacelles, a first for the Tour. The Col de la Lusette, 11.6 km at 7.3%, close to Mont Aigoual, comes next, followed by the Côte de l'Estrade, 5.7 km at 8.3%.
Everything leads to Mende and the Montée Laurent Jalabert, 3 km at 10.1%. Prudhomme calls the Croix Neuve a magical sight that will seem a long way off at the start in Montpellier. With 4,300 metres of climbing, the riders hoping to win on it first have to survive everything before it.
Prudhomme sees chances for long range attackers and the punchiest overall contenders at every point of the stage. A strong breakaway and the favourites behind it could both be racing for the win on the Croix Neuve.
“Another shake-up in the overall standings.”
Its 4,300 metres of climbing and punishing final ascent could create another shake-up in the overall standings.
Stuey's 2027 route review, October 2026
Stuart O'Grady OAM OLY
4 x Tour de France Stage Winner
The Croix Neuve is the place to be. It rises straight out of Mende, so you can be on the steep slopes for the race and back in town for dinner, and the crowd on the climb is as close to the riders as anywhere in the Tour.
Mende is a stage town for the seventh time and the Lozère's capital, small and easy to move around. For riders, the Montée Laurent Jalabert is a short, savage climb to tackle the day before, and the Cirque de Navacelles is one of the great natural sights of southern France.
Col de la Lusette: 11.6 km at 7.3%.
Côte de la Croix Neuve, the Montée Laurent Jalabert: 3 km at 10.1% above Mende.
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