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About Stage 14: Colmar > Besançon

COLMAR
The 1949 Tour introduced the public to an outstanding racer, Fausto Coppi. When he rode through Colmar, the winner of the Giro d’Italia had already won the race, having outdistanced his teammate Gino Bartali by over ten minutes. Coppi won his third stage on the next-tothe-last day, between Colmar and Nancy. Soon he would become the “Campionissimo”.

BESANÇON
The stage leading to Besançon during the 1905 Tour gave cycling a new boost. The pack started in Nancy and climbed the Ballon d’Alsace for the first time, leaving the impression that, in the future, this would be one of the ascents that would determine the race’s outcome. That day, René Pottier took the lead at the Ballon. Hippolyte Aucouturier beat him to the finish line in Besançon, but Pottier took control of the race. Since then, Kübler, Darrigade, Anquetil and Danguillaume have won the stage and the race. Armstrong was the last rider to do so, in the 2004 Tour’s final time-trial.

Colmar to Besançon, 199km

By Frankie Andreu
After welcoming a Tour finish the day before the excitement continues with a start in Colmar. At least the riders will have a very short transfer to the start today.
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City Facts
COLMAR
• 6-time stage-town
• Population 67,000
• Prefecture of the Haut-Rhin (68)
BESANÇON
• 17-time stage-town
• Population 122,300
• County town of the Franche-Comté Region Prefecture of the Doubs (25)
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Beautiful Besancon

By Bob Roll
This is the part of the world where I feel most comfortable as far as the Roll family history; we are of German descent. It’s absolutely gorgeous here.
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Map My Ride Challenge

Tour de France Podcast

By JoE Silva
In this Tour de France Exclusive Versus.com Podcast JoE Silva interviews author John Wilcockson on his new book "Lance - The Making of the World's Greatest Champion

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Newsflashes - Stage 14

17:26:49 - No Yellow Today George...

The peloton is sprinting for 13th place and has finished 5'35" behind. Hincapie misses out on the yellow jersey by six seconds...!

17:25:45 - Hincapie Eight in Stage

Hincapie now has an anxious wait to see if he's the new leader of the Tour de France. The peloton has to finish over 5'41" behind Ivanov if the American (who finished 8th - at 16") is going to take the yellow jersey.

17:23:11 - The Top Five In Stage 14

The most aggressive rider in the 14th stage is Martijn Maaskant but the man who started the escape at the 24km mark had to settle for fourth in Besancon. The top five of stage 14 is:

1. Serguei Ivanov (RUS) KAT - 199km in 4h37'46"

2. Nicolas Roche (IRL) ALM at 16"

3. Hayden Roulston (NZL) CTT at 16"

4. Martijn Maaskant (NED) GRM at 16"

5. Sebastien Minard (FRA) COF) at 16"

17:22:10 - Ivanov Takes The Victory

Ivanov has won the stage, finishing 15" ahead of the Irish champion. It's the Russian's second victory in the Tour de France, the first coming in 2001.

17:21:13 - Katusha Earns A Victory

Katusha is about to celebrate its first stage victory in the Tour de France. Roche has just pounced past Roulston inside the final kilometer and there are going to be two national champions in first and second place today...

17:18:51 - First Russian Stage Win Since Menchov In 2006?

Ivanov won the stage the last time that Pontarlier hosted the start (in 2001). He's now leading Roulston and Timmer by 28" and has 1km to go in the stage. It will be the first Russian stage win since Menchov won stage nine of the 2006 edition.