Tour de France 2027 Route stage 18: Pau - Col du Portet

Thursday 22 July – Stage 18 has all the raw materials to become a Pyrenean epic. Over 174 kilometres, the riders tackle the Col du Soulor, Col du Tourmalet and Hourquette d’Ancizan before taking on the Col du Portet as the final climb. Along the way, they rack up 5,400 metres of elevation gain.

Published on 8 November 2027

Type: mountain stage
Favourites: climbers, GC contenders

The Tour de France and Pau go hand in hand. Last year, Olav Kooij claimed the first sprint opportunity of the race in his very first Tour. It was the 64th time in the race’s history that the Tour finished in the city at the foot of the Pyrenees.

This time, the yellow caravan sets off from Pau, a privilege the city has enjoyed even more often: 68 times. The last time it did so also heralded a Dutch success. Two editions ago, the riders headed to Luchon-Superbagnères, where Thymen Arensman soloed to triumph.

Once the flag drops, the riders follow a flat approach to the foot of the Col du Soulor, an 11.8-kilometre climb averaging 7.3%. Upon cresting, they descend to Argelès-Gazost and, following a gently rising false-flat section through the Vallée des Gaves, tackle the Col du Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur. This climb is even more monstrous: 19 kilometres at 7.4%, with the steepest kilometre reaching 10.9%.

Straight after the descent towards Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, the riders begin the 8.2-kilometre climb of the Hourquette d’Ancizan. It averages 5.1%, although that figure is somewhat misleading because of a short descent and a gently rising false-flat section halfway up.

The Tourmalet–Hourquette d’Ancizan combination also featured in the 2024 Tour de France. That stage finished with the climb to Pla d’Adet, where Tadej Pogacar took victory with an attack inside the final 5 kilometres. Jonas Vingegaard finished second, 39 seconds behind, while Remco Evenepoel came third, more than 1 minute down.

This time, the Col du Portet provides the summit finish. It is a brute of a climb, stretching over 16 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.7%. The second, third and final kilometres are particularly brutal, with all three averaging well over 10%.

It's the third Tour de France stage finish atop the Col du Portet. Nairo Quintana took the honours in 2018, while Tadej Pogacar triumphed in 2021.