Mazamet is situated in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France, in the centre of the Upper Languedoc Regional Park, and has long been a cycling hotbed. This year marks its debut as a stage town on the Tour.

Stage 14 is classified a ‘high mountain’ route, the first of three Pyrenean stages, and incorporates three timed climbs and three sprint time trials. The final ascent to Plateau-du-Beille, 15.9km at a gradient of 7.9%, will be a severe challenge for all concerned.

Following an immediate ‘king of the mountains’, the first sprint will take place in Carcassonn after 46.5km. Itself a designated stage venue seven times, the town was the scene of a Jean Stablinkski victory in 1962. The four-time French champion achieved his best Tour finish that year, coming 30th. He went on to win the 1962 World Championship.

The peloton will take the second trial at Campagne-sur-Aude, before climbing to Port de Pailhères at 2,001 metres. Brief respite follows in the form of a 1,500-metre descent into Luzenac, before riders embark on the desperately hard climb to the finish in Plateau-du-Beille.

The final destination is a town with fond memories for American Lance Armstrong. The seven-time Tour champion won there in 2002 and 2004, both stages having emanated in Lannemazan.

Italian Marco Pantani, regarded as the foremost climber of the late twentieth century, claimed victory in Plateau-du-Beille on the way to his only Tour triumph in 1998. Pantani faced doping charges in 1999 and was involved in a high-profile spat with Armstrong in 2000. He was found dead after a suspected drug overdose on February 14th, 2004.

Plateau-du-Belle offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding Pyrenees and overlooks the Ax valley. As a renowned Nordic sports venue, the town boasts 70km of cross-country ski runs and a luge track