5 most anticipated stages of the 2018 Tour de France
By Zach Bigalke
1. Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Alpe d’Huez (Stage 12, 108.5 mi/175 km)
The moment the route was released in October 2017, the feature stage stood out immediately. Everyone was abuzz about the return of Alpe d’Huez on the Alpine section of the race. Appearing on the course for the ninth time in the 21st century, this will be the 30th time overall that Alpe d’Huez has been climbed at the Tour de France.
This time, the iconic climb provides the summit finish for a stage that features three climbs rated beyond category. Beginning the day in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the peloton will see whose legs are still up to climbing after two previous days in the Alps. The roads ramp up after the first 15 miles of the day, as riders begin to slog up the 15-mile-long Col de la Madeleine.
After descending to La Chambre, the peloton then tackles the second-category Lacets de Montvernier with eight-percent pitches. Then they take on the Col de la Croix de Fer, a multi-tiered climb taking riders near 6,800 feet above sea level. This disjointed route up the climb takes riders through three tunnels along a route that averages 5.5 percent but that offers a variety of gradients.
Next: The 2018 Tour de France route breakdown
The biggest test, though, is the Alpe d’Huez itself. The 21 switchbacks of the climb are one of the most picturesque visions in the entire sport. Popularized in the early 21st century by Lance Armstrong, the record up the climb remains a trio of ascents by Italian legend Marco Pantani in the mid-1990s.
For more from The Tour de France, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our cycling hub for all the latest news and results.