Tour de France 2017 Favourites stage 18: GC contenders versus attackers

Stage 18 in the Tour de France travels to the summit of Col d'Izoard. That's a tough last climb, but because the first half of the race is doable it would't be a huge surprise if we'll see a two-front battle. Attackers for the stage win, GC contenders for the maillot jaune. (Slideshow route/profile)

Basically, the 18th stage in the Tour de France combines two types of races. The battle for the stage win will depend on the lead of the breakaway at the end of the first part, which takes place on gently rolling roads.

At kilometre 120 the route takes a different shape when the Col de Vars looms, a 9.3 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 7.5%. Following a long descent and an already slightly undulating stretch through the valley the key to success lies on the slopes of Col d’Izoard. At 14.1 kilometres, the pass is averaging 7.3%, but this number is misleading. In the last 10 kilometres the Izoard goes up at 9%, while the closing kilometre is averaging a stunning 10%.

Favourites 18th stage 2017 Tour de France

*** Chris Froome, Romain Bardet, Mikel Landa, Warren Barguil
** Fabio Aru, Rigoberto Uran, Daniel Martin, Simon Yates, Alberto Contador
* Bauke Mollema, Thomas De Gendt, Stephen Cummings, Serge Pauwels