GRUISSAN
The main seaside resort in the department of Aude is hosting the Tour for the first time, but it’s already welcomed the Vuelta’s riders as a result of being the finish town on the opening road stage of the 2017 edition, which had begun in Nîmes. Yves Lampaert won his first Grand Tour stage that day and donned, the red leader’s jersey. Five years on from that, he pulled on the Yellow Jersey after winning the Tour’s opening time trial in Copenhagen. A close neighbour to Narbonne, where Mark Cavendish celebrated victory in 2008, Gruissan also welcomed the Tour of the Mediterranean and witnessed successes by two Tour stage winners: Sylvain Chavanel in 2008, then André Greipel in 2013.
- First-time stage town
- Town in the department of Aude (11)
- Population: 5,200 (Gruissanais)
