Tucked away in the southern French Alps, the ski resort of Orcières-Merlette doesn't enjoy the renown of fabled summits like Mont Ventoux, Alpe d'Huez, or the Col du Galibier. Nevertheless the eyes of the cycling world will be directed towards it today, with Tadej Pogačar and his Tour de France rivals finishing stage 18 on its category-one slopes.
The personal goals of each rider today will be many and varied, from winning at the top to simply making the time cut. And while you might imagine Pogačar has little left to prove in this year's Tour de France, he has unfinished business at today's destination. Last time the race finished here was his Tour debut in 2020, on stage four. The young pretender was beaten to the punch by countryman, rival and old-hand Primož Roglič, riding then for Jumbo-Visma.
