The Tour de France continues on day four on the other side of the Pyrenees. Just like last year, the Tour visits the medieval city of Carcassonne, but this time the city serves as the start of the stage.

Stage four is a true transitional stage, the kind you would normally see only in the second or third week of the Tour de France. It is far too difficult for sprinters, while GC contenders will certainly not make their move here yet. So it will likely be a day for the breakaway.

In the first hours of racing, there will be few opportunities to really get away. Yes, the Col de Villerouge and the Col de Bedos are on the route, but these climbs never really get steeper than four or five percent. The same goes for the Col du Paradis after about sixty kilometers.

After halfway through the race, the real climbs and mountain points follow. After nearly 100 kilometers, the riders begin the ascent of the Col de Coudons (10.7 kilometers at 5.5%), where we will undoubtedly see a strong battle among the breakaway riders. After this climb, the riders remain on a plateau for quite some time before descending for about thirty kilometers toward Bélesta.

The climax then comes on the Col de Montségur (6.9 kilometers at 6.9%). After this climb, it is roughly 35 kilometers of descending to the finish in Voix.