Tour de France 2018: Stage-by-stage guide of the routes, profiles, rest days, dates and more
Chris Froome is one of the leading contenders as he chases history, hoping to join a elite band of legendary riders to have conquered the Tour de France five times
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2018 Tour de France gets under way on Saturday 7 July in Noirmoutier-En-L’Ïle in Vendee. The peloton face a 35.5km time trial on stage 3, a testing climb up Mûr-de-Bretagne on stage 6, a trip along the treacherous cobbles to Roubaix on stage 9, a climb up the iconic Alpe d’Huez on stage 12, a sojourn in northern Spain on stage 16, an unprecedented grid start on stage 17 and a decisive individual time trial on the penultimate day.
Chris Froome is one of the leading contenders as he chases history, hoping to join a elite band of legendary riders to have conquered the Tour de France five times. But he is expected to face tough competition from a strong Movistar team fronted by the diminutive Colombian Nairo Quintana, and from Bahrain-Merida’s Vincenzo Nibali, the only non-British rider to have won the Tour since 2011.
Other candidates include BMC’s former Froome domestique Richie Porte, Sunweb’s 2017 Giro champion Tom Dumoulin, Ag2r-La Mondiale’s home-favourite Romain Bardet and Mitchelton-Scott’s British rider Adam Yates.
Take a look through our stage-by-stage guide to the Tour de France:
Stage 1, Saturday 7 July: Noirmoutier-En-L’Ïle to Fontenay-Le-Comte (201km)
A flat opening stage following the coastline which will expose the peloton to crosswinds from the Atlantic Ocean and is likely to end in a bunch sprint.
Stage 2, Sunday 8 July: Mouilleron-Saint Germain to La Roche-Sur-Yon (182.5km)
A route through the Vendee countryside with another opportunity for the sprinters to clinch a stage victory.
Stage 3, Monday 9 July: Cholet (team time trial, 35.5km)
A team trial around Cholet which will give an early indication as to the quality and depth of the leading groups.
Stage 4, Tuesday 10 July: La Baule to Sarzeau (195 km)
The visit to Brittany could be the moment for the dominant sprinter of the Tour to make his mark.
Stage 5, Wednesday 11 July: Lorient to Quimper (204.5 km)
A tricky stage to Finistere full of narrow roads and short, sharp climbs.
Stage 6, Thursday 12 July: Brest – Mûr de Bretagne Guerlédan (181 km)
The Mur de Bretagne will be scaled twice in the final kilometres in the toughest test of the first week.
Stage 7, Friday 13 July: Fougères to Chartres (231 km)
This is a long stage which invites a breakaway but is likely to won by a sprinter.
Stage 8, Saturday 14 July: Dreux to Amiens Métropole (181 km)
The sprinters could be scuppered by the Normandy crosswinds – conditions will be crucial.
Stage 9, Sunday 15 July: Arras Citadelle to Roubaix (156.5 km)
A testing route consisting of 22km of cobblestone split into 15 treacherous section which could claim a few casualties.
Rest day
Stage 10, Tuesday 17 July: Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand (158.5 km)
A rare trip off the asphalt and on to a gravel road is likely to puncture a few tyres.
Stage 11, Wednesday 18 July: Albertville to La Rosière (108.5 km)
A first serious taste of the mountains, albeit on a very short stage.
Stage 12, Thursday 19 July: Bourg-Saint-Maurice Les Arc to Alpe d’Huez (175.5 km)
A summit finish on top of the Tour de France’s most iconic climb: Alpe d’Huez.
Stage 13, Friday 20 July: Bourg d’Oisans to Valence (169.5 km)
A gentler day after three stages in the mountains and one for the sprinters to contest.
Stage 14, Saturday 21 July: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Mende (188 km)
A stage with four categorised climbs including a sharp climb to Mende which will hurt tired legs.
Stage 15, Sunday 22 July: Millau to Carcassonne (181.5 km)
Another undulating day ripe for a breakaway.
Rest day
Stage 16, Tuesday 24 July: Carcassonne to Bagnères-de-Luchon (218 km)
A long and draining stage with three ascents in the second half to bring out the best in the elite climbers.
Stage 17, Wednesday 25 July: Bagnères-de-Luchon to Saint-Lary-Soulan (65 km)
The shortest regular stage for 30 years and yet a brutal one, finishing on the steep Col du Portet, which could prove decisive.
Stage 18, Thursday 26 July: Trie-sur-Baïse to Pau (171 km)
Some respite for the climbers after three draining days, and another chance for the sprinters to shine.
Stage 19, Friday 27 July: Lourdes to Laruns (200.5 km)
The famous Aspin-Tourmalet combination in the middle of this stage makes it perfect for a yellow jersey assault.
Stage 20, Saturday 28 July: Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle to Espelette (individual time trial, 31 km)
A time trial with enough short climbs – including the final Col du Pinodieta – to upset the traditional time triallists.
Stage 21, Sunday 29 July: Houilles to Paris (116 km)
The procession into the Champs-Elysees for those that have made it, and one final opportunity for the power riders.
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