Stage 18 - Thursday, July 21: Albi - Mende, 189 km
This stage is made for an escape artist in the style of Laurent Jalabert - or whoever takes his...
This stage is made for an escape artist in the style of Laurent Jalabert - or whoever takes his place in this year's peloton - who was able to push hard enough on the climbs to get away. The finish is atop Cote de la Croix-Neuve, a brutally steep climb of 10.1% for 3.1km after climbing the Cote de Chabrits, a cat 3 short climb of 1.7km with a tough 7.1% gradient. Michael Boogerd and Alexandre Vinokourov could both be in the mix for a win on this stage within the Massif Central - look for some shuffles on GC as riders tire after 10 days of climbing, and the final selection is made before the race against the clock.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Christopher Blevins and Samara Maxwell walk away from Brazil Mountain Bike World Series opening rounds on top of XCO leaderboards
American Specialized Factory rider closes with XCO win as New Zealand’s Maxwell comes second to Jenny Rissveds in final battle at Araxá -
More comfortable and more adherence on back wheel – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot embraces adjustable tyre pressure edge at winning Paris-Roubaix debut
Visma-Lease a Bike rider says for Tour of Flanders the self-inflating technology was a 'maybe but maybe not' though 'for the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix there is no question' -
Gallery: Paris-Roubaix women's podium bikes
Fresh off the cobbles, all three bikes from the podium of Paris-Roubaix Femmes -
USA CRITS: Lucas Bourgoyne goes back-to-back at Hapeville Crit while Aylena Quevedo takes pro women's win
Women's Kingdom Elite team goes one-two with Jeydy Praderas on podium ahead of Erica Carney