| Stage | 15 |
|---|---|
| Type | Road Stage |
| Date | Sunday, 18 July 2027 |
| Route | Rodez → Albi |
| Distance | 169 km |
The stage before a rest day is always raced hard, because the riders know they can recover tomorrow. Eight categorised climbs give the attackers a string of launchpads, and the attacks can keep coming after the last summit.
Albi is a city of firsts. On its Tour debut in 1953, André Darrigade won the first of his 22 stage wins here, and on the Tour's most recent visit Wout van Aert won his first Tour stage. Peter Sagan took his only stage win of the 2013 Tour on the road to Albi.
The stage leaves Rodez, a Tour town for the sixth time, and rolls across the Aveyron and the Tarn over eight categorised climbs. Prudhomme describes a day where the run of climbs and descents offers numerous chances to attack.
The final categorised summit tops out less than 25 km from the finish. The best of the attackers will then swoop down towards Albi on a descent that takes them to within five kilometres of the line, before one last effort on a rising false flat.
A breakaway win or a reduced sprint from a small group are both possible. Hard to call, which is the point.
“Strong, smart decisions.”
Positioning, teamwork, recovery, race intelligence and knowing when and where to move as a team can make all the difference. Strong, smart decisions and positive thinking.
Stuey's 2027 route review, October 2026
Stuart O'Grady OAM OLY
4 x Tour de France Stage Winner
Albi hosts the Tour for the 14th time, and the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the old bridge over the Tarn make it one of the most beautiful finishes of the race. The final rising drag into town is where to watch the attackers try to hold off the chase.
Rodez, at the start, is the Aveyron's capital and a relaxed place to see the team buses before the race rolls out. After the finish, the race transfers to Toulouse for the third and final rest day on Monday 19 July.
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