Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 18: Last chance for climbers

image: Cor VosThe 18th stage of the Tour de France is an open invitation to mountain goats to plan a long range attack. After a flat run-in the finale includes the Tourmalet and the final haul-up to Luz Ardiden with hardly any valley road in between. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 18th stage is merely 130 kilometres long and the first phase is virtually flat before the final mountainous battle rages.

The Tourmalet has thrown up its fair share of compelling racing since it was first introduced in 1910. In fact, the pass is the most included climb on the Tour de France. The 2021 inclusion marks the 88th time.

The riders enter the Tourmalet in Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. On this side, the climb adds up to 17.1 kilometres, while the average gradient sits at 7.3%. The finish climb into Luz-Ardiden is similar, although somewhat shorter: 13.3 kilometres at 7.4% .

Given the relatively flat first phase, it should be easy to control the break. And given the fact that Pogacar is in a perfect postion to win both the yellow jersey, polka dots and young rider classification – which is he also did last year -, we’ll opt for a similar scenario as in the 17th stage.

Favourites stage 18 Tour de France 2021

*** Tadej Pogacar, Richard Carapaz, Jonas Vingegaard
** David Gaudu, Nairo Quintana, Bauke Mollema, Michael Woods
* Dylan Teuns, Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao, Kenny Elissonde, Geraint Thomas

Another interesting read: route 18th stage 2021 Tour de France.