2015 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21

The 2015 Tour de France was the 102nd edition of the race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Tour started in Utrecht, Netherlands on 4 July and finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 26 July. On 21 July, between stages 16 and 17 there was a rest day in Gap.

This mountainous stage began in Lannemezan, and headed south-east to an early intermediate sprint at Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. The race then continued east through Payssous and Aspet, where it turned south. After the peloton passed through Sengouagnet, the peloton turned east again and the 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) climb of the category 2 Col de Portet d'Aspet at 1,069 metres (3,507 ft) began, with an average gradient of 9.7%. The race then descended to Castillon-en-Couserans, which was immediately followed to the south-east by the 14.1 kilometres (8.8 mi) climb of the category 1 Col de la Core at 1,395 metres (4,577 ft), with a gradient of 5.7%. The riders then descended east towards Seix, following the valley through to Massat and, turning south, where the 12.9 kilometres (8.0 mi) climb of the category 1 Port de Lers at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft) began, with an average gradient of 6%. The race then descended to the valley floor at Tarascon-sur-Ariège to the east, which continued to Les Cabannes. The final climb was of the Hors catégorie Plateau de Beille at 1,780 metres (5,840 ft). This was a winding 15.8 kilometres (9.8 mi) climb south from Les Cabannes, with a gradient of 7.9%.

This hilly intermediate stage began in Muret heading east through the southern outskirts of Toulouse, with racing officially starting after passing through Venerque. Continuing through Fourquevaux and Caraman, the riders turned north to go through Lavaur and then east to travel through Graulhet, to an intermediate sprint at Laboutarie. After turning north-east and travelling through Villefranche-d'Albigeois, the hills began. First was the category 3 climb of the Côte de Saint-Cirgue to 422 metres (1,385 ft). The riders then went through Valence-d'Albigeois and eventually turned north. Only 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) apart, the next two climbs came in relatively quick succession, with the category 4 Côte de Pomparie to 578 metres (1,896 ft) followed quickly by the category 4 Côte de la Selve at 661 metres (2,169 ft). From here, the route into Rodez was not flat, although the climb to La Primaube was not categorised. The 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) descent into Rodez allowed for a fast finish.

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