Tour de France 2009: Stage 14 preview

• Friday, 26 June 2009
• Andrew McGrath
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Tour de France 2009, stage 14 preview logo

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When Saturday July 18
Where Colmar – Besancon
How far 199km

IMPACT ON CLASSIFICATIONS
Yellow Jersey 1/5
Green Jersey 5/5
Polka-Dot Jersey 2/5

STAGE DESCRIPTION
The race heads south, out of the Vosges, to the capital of Franche-Comté, Besancon. There’s just two third-category climbs on the route, which skirts the German border today. Though they will have tired legs, the sprinters will be keen on catching the day’s breakaway, as this will be their last chance to garner green-jersey points before the race’s closing stage in Paris.

STAGE FACTS

• Seventeen Tour stages have finished in Besancon previously. Lance Armstrong was the last winner here, fastest around a 60km time-trial in 2004.
• Besancon is home to recently-naturalised French citizen Laszlo Bodrogi. The Hungarian-born Katusha pro moved there in the mid-1990s and has gone on to marry a French woman.
• Christophe Moreau could be on the attack today – the stage goes within kilometres of his house in Belfort.
• Number of Cat 3 and 4 climbs in this year’s Tour: 43; Number in the 2008 Tour: 40