Stage 18 DS Insights Preview
🏁 Stage 18 Tour de France – Vif → Courchevel (Col de la Loze, 2 304 m) – 171.5 km
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 24 July 2025 ⛰️ Theme: Queen stage with triple HC climbs—Glandon, Madeleine, then the majestic Loze. The hardest day yet.
Route & Terrain Breakdown
Initial balanced terrain, shifting into 5,450 m of vertical gain across three colossal climbs.
HC Climbs:
Col du Glandon (21.7 km @ 5.1%) at km 62.3.
Col de la Madeleine (19.2 km @ 7.9%) at km 104.6.
Col de la Loze summit at 2 304 m, the biggest test: 26.4 km @ 6.5% finish.
Altitude & fatigue: High-altitude GC test with over 26 km sustained climbing to finish.
🌦️ Weather & Conditions
Possible chill and plumes of rain at altitude—thin air may sap legs.
Summit area is exposed windswept terrain—expect cold, wind, and stark mountain visuals.
🎯 Key Tactical Questions
1. UAE’s Challenge vs Visma offense: Will Pogačar control from the front or ride defensive? Can Visma launch Vingegaard with a coordinated attack?
2. Team depth at altitude: Who can support repeatedly on HC climbs? Domestiques will matter.
3. KOM stakes: 40 points at Loze summit—expect Martinez, Arensman, maybe even Pogacar targeting dots.
4. Breakaway threat: Dangerous, but GC teams unlikely to allow significant gap this deep.
🔮 Predicted Scenarios & Contenders
Scenario Rider(s)
Stage Winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE) – peak form, race hardened
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma) – power-driven counterpunch
Thymen Arensman (INEOS) – opportunistic climber
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain) – KOM ambition pushing forward (Could be 1 climb to many for Martinez today)
Michael Woods (IPT) – steady high-altitude performer
Yellow Defense Pogačar holds tempo, neutralizes late attacks
GC Shake-up Vingegaard must attack in Madeleine or Loze early
🧨 DS Tactical Take
“This is the crucible. Over 5 km of vertical slog at 7.9%, followed by a 26 km summit climb—legs will crack, teams will crack. UAE need to ride ruthless tempo from Madeleine. Visma must fire in numbers. Vingegaard must win this mountain day or second remains distant.”
📣 DS Final Summary for Stage 18 “Three HC cols in one day. That’s legendary. At Courchevel they’ll demand everything. If Pogačar falters, we’ll see cracks. If Vingegaard attacks with support, the race tilts again. This is more than a stage, “it’s the definition of this Tour.”
