5 most anticipated stages of the 2018 Tour de France
By Zach Bigalke
Not all stages are created equal, even at the Tour de France. Here are the five most anticipated stages along the 2018 route.
When the route for the 2018 Tour de France was announced in October 2017, a few stages immediately drew interest from cycling fans. There were plenty of exciting climbs, and not just in the Alps and Pyrenees. The route included a few challenges along cobblestones and other unpaved routes. And continuing a trend from 2017, this year’s route featured even less opportunity for time-trial specialists.
You’ll definitely want to tune in for all of this year’s race. But if you absolutely have to schedule your life to miss a few stages here and there, make sure you don’t miss one of these five gems.
5. Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle to Espelette (Stage 20 ITT, 19.2 mi/31 km)
There is a 22-mile team time trial in the first week of the race. But that requires its own set of skills distinct from an individual time trial. For those cyclists who excel in the race against the clock, the lone opportunity to carve out time against rivals comes in the penultimate stage before the promenade on the Champs-Elysees.
Race organizers plotted out a 19-mile individual time trial for the final Saturday of the race. Beginning in Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, a small village in the Basque Pyrenees, riders will endure a challenging time trial course.
Riders begin climbing almost immediately out of the starting ramp. The route climbs over 400 feet over the first 2.5 miles of the ride. After passing through the village, the route undulates over the next three miles before dipping through Ustaritz. The road then ramps back up as riders pass out of Ustaritz and head toward Souraide.
The last five miles of the time trial includes a trip up the Col de Pinodieta, a half-mile climb ramping up to an average of more than 10 percent gradient. A quick descent into Espelette completes the stage, testing descending skills at the finish.