The route to Carcassonne is typically a sprinter's delight, yet the 2,400 metres of ascent over less than 170 kilometres might tempt the breakaway experts. The Côte de Saint-Ferréol just outside Revel, followed by the Pas du Sant in the Tarn valley (2.9km at a 10% gradient), may offer the ideal chance to shake off their competitors. Subsequently, there is a 40-kilometre mild descent into the ancient city, where they might also face a significant crosswind.