Lourdes to Hautacam

Stage 18 / Thursday, July 21st

Stage 17 did not disappoint! The GC battle was in full force with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) going head-to-head on the final climb up the Cat 1 Peyragudes. UAE Team Emirates did the damage with American Brandon McNulty shedding all the support riders for Jumbo Visma and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) heading over the penultimate climb on the day. Stage 18 sets up for another epic battle in the Pyrénées. Starting in Lourdes, the 143 km stage heads west for 46 km before heading south for 15 km of flat riding before the start of the first HC climb up the Aubisque. At 16 km, the first climb is the longest of the day and averages over 7%, but the second half of the Aubisque never dips below 8% and has sections over 10%. The descent off of the Aubisque is not straightforward as there is a steep non categorized climb, the Col de Soulor, in the middle. The day's second climb is the Col de Spandelle, which is a bit shorter at 10.3 km but no less steep, averaging 8.3%. After an 18 km descent, the GC contenders will have a final chance in the mountains to gain time or possibly crack on the climb to the summit finish up the HC Hautacam. The final climb averages 7.8% over 13.6 km. The climb features an undulation with no steady gradients, giving GC hopefuls many opportunities to attack and get a bit of recovery, then repeat as they climb to the finish.

Weather Forecast

Temps will stay high in the upper 20s and reach 30 degrees celsius before the day's final climb. Once again, riders will enjoy a tailwind for the first half of the course keeping speeds extremely high and limiting any break-a-way attempts.

Stage Analysis

Heading into Stage 17, the loss of more riders for team UAE Team Emirates would seem like a huge detriment for Tadej Pogačar. However, Brandon McNulty put in the ride of his life to set up Poga?ar to try to gain time back on Jonas Vingegaard on the final climb to the finish. On Stage 17, Jumbo Visma had no response to the sustained hard efforts by McNulty. Tadej didn't seem to have the legs to break clear in the climb's last kms, with Vingegaard easily marking any move. Pogačar got the stage win with a brilliant gritty sprint up the 20% grade to the finish but only gained 4 seconds in the GC hunt. We will see how this effort will impact the team in Stage 18. On paper, it should be another epic GC battle on the final climb. Still, the cumulative efforts might mean Stage 18 is left to a 1-on-1 battle for Yellow on the final major climb of the Tour de France. It will be hard pressed for Pogačar to take the time needed from Vingegaard, but as we have seen, it's not over till riders cross the line in Paris.