Listed as a flat stage, the route from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence is actually quite lumpy with 3 category 3 climbs and rolling terrain throughout. Stage 19 does feature an overall negative gradient but the forecast is calling for a steadily rising headwind and at 222.5 km that makes for a very long day of racing. The wind will make it hard for a small break to stay away from any concentrated chase from the peloton, but that chase would have to be lead by teams that do not have a big win. The obvious big efforts would come from Lotto Soudal working for Andre Greipel. With the Time Trial looming and Michael Mathews way ahead in the Green Jersey competition most teams would be happy to let a break fight it out for stage glory.