Tour de France: Stage 18
Gap - l'Alpe d'Huez 172.5 km
Because once isn't enough
Sixty-one years on from the Tour's first encounter with Alpe-d'Huez, the 100th edition of the race returns for the 28th time – or the 29th to be precise, as for the first time ever the riders will climb the Alpe's 21 hairpins twice in a stage. It's all thanks to improvements to the road that climbs from the resort to the Col de la Sarenne. From there it's a sharp drop to the Chambon dam, just a few kilometres along the valley from Bourg d'Oisans, to which the riders will return before making that historic second asent. This is a short stage with barely any flat at all – the kind of day that's now a trademark of Tour director Christian Prudhomme and his routefinder general, Jean-François Pescheux. The final 60-odd kilometres pack a real punch, although they won't be an over-the-top challenge for riders who would usually come to the Alpe via the Croix de Fer/ Glandon or the Galibier. In a race packed with great moments, this will surely be the most memorable – and probably the most important.
Stephen Roche: "Climbing the Alpe twice should add some spice, although I hope they don't just ride over it the first time and wait until the last 5km of the stage to attack. It's the change of rhythm that makes the Alpe so hard, the first six or seven bends are very steep, only then does it ease of a bit."
Local history
French hopes of overall success have not been as high for years, based on the performances of Thomas Voeckler, Thibault Pinot and Pierre Rolland. The latter was the last rider to win on the Alpe in 2011, outwitting and outriding Contador and Samuel Sánchez. Could he win again? And could he take yellow?
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Amazon Prime Day Bike Deals Live: 33% off Garmin computers, Electric pumps and Tacx smart trainers
Deals on Canyon electric bikes, Adidas shoes, AirPods and more. Day three of Amazon Prime Day is here, and the sale is heating up -
Airpods Pro 2 vs Pixel Buds Pro 2: Battle of the Amazon Prime Day deals
With both options on offer for Amazon Prime Day, which should you part with your money for? -
Back pain forces Lotte Kopecky to abandon Giro d'Italia
'As a precaution ahead of the Tour de France Femmes, she is leaving the Giro d'Italia Women to take three to four days of complete rest' confirms SD Worx-Protime -
If you're looking for a Garmin Edge 540 in the Amazon Prime Day sale, I have found a much better deal for you
The Garmin Edge 540 is discounted by 15% but there are better deals on Garmin out there