The opportunists and puncheurs of the peloton will have another chance at a breakaway on stage 18 at the Tour de France.
The previous day's stage 17 ended with a series of challenging ascents that saw breakaway rider Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) succeed with victory ahead of a GC battle on the slopes of the Superdévoluy, but stage 18 will offer a less challenging route to entice another breakaway.
The 179.5km race from Gap to Barcelonnette may offer a slight reprieve from the higher mountains with only category 3 climbs on the route.
However, a constantly up-and-down route with 3,100 metres of elevation gain - more than stage 17's mountain test. includes five category 3 ascents, beginning with the Col du Festre (3.9km at 6.3%), the Côte de Corps (2.1km at 7.2%) and the Col de Manse (5.1km at 3.6%).
A strong group of puncheurs might be able to go clear on the Côte de Saint-Apollinaire (7km at 5.5%) with 58 kilometres to go if the fight for the break lasts as long as it did on stage 17. A similar situation could occur over the final categorised climb up the Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées (3.6km at 5.4%) with 40 kilometres to go, however, a group will likely have formed on the earlier slopes.
The route does not offer an easy run-in to the finish line, but rather, it ends on a gradual rise to the finish toward Barcelonnette near the Italian border.
It will be one of the last days that caters to a breakaway before the race hits the high mountains on stage 19 to Isola 2000 and stage 20 to Col de la Couillole, before the final time trial on stage 21 closes out the GC battle at this year's Tour de France.
Stage 18 information
Stage 18 Sprints
- Intermediate sprint, km 84.3
Stage 18 Mountains
- Col du Festre (3.9km at 6.3%), cat. 3, km 32.2
- Côte de Corps (2.1km at 7.2%), cat. 3, km 57.5
- Col de Manse (5.1km at 3.6%), cat. 3, km 97.3
- Côte de Saint-Apollinaire (7km at 5.5%), cat. 3, km 121
- Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées (3.6km at 5.4%), cat. 3, km 139.1
