2020 Tour de France stage 18 preview
September 17, 2020: Méribel > La Roche-sur-Foron, 175km
Stage 18: Méribel - La Roche-sur-Foron
Date: September 17, 2020
Distance: 175km
Stage start: 12:05 p.m. CEST
Stage type: Mountain
The final Alpine stage of the 2020 Tour is another roller coaster with four big climbs, with barely any respite in the 4,000m of climbing.
They got it wrong last time the Tour came over the Plateau de Glières, in 2018. The climb came early in the stage, and the overall shape of the stage discouraged GC action, so the break was just left to get on with it. The first rider over the top in 2018 was Julian Alaphilippe, en route to the stage win, and the mountain points title. The Frenchman has a long history with the climb - in the 2013 Tour de l’Avenir, representing France at the age of 21, he was the solo winner of a stage that finished at the top.
On a racing level it’s perfect - a tough climb, followed by a rolling gravel section through the plateau. So for 2020, they’ve given it the headline slot on the final Alpine stage of the race. (Technically, there have been eight Alpine stages in total this year, so it’s a prestigious slot.)
Stage 18 climbs the beautiful Cormet de Roselend, the Saises and Aravis before the Plateau de Glières. The Cormet de Roselend and Saisies made their Tour debuts in 1979, while the Aravis appeared on the route the first time the Tour went into the high Alps, during the 1911 race.
It’s another stern test of climbing aptitude and endurance. From the top of the last climb, it’s another 30km to the finish, and not all of that is downhill. If you include the climb, that’s well over an hour of racing. This is not the time for solo heroics, but even less so is it the time for a bad day.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'The contract was ready' - Remco Evenepoel was reportedly offered multi-million euro contract by Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe
HLN analyst Michel Wuyts reveals details of bid to try and lure Evenepoel away from Soudal-QuickStep -
Pan-Am Cyclocross Championships: Eric Brunner wins fourth consecutive title
USA sweeps elite men's podium with Curtis White in second and Andrew Strohmeyer in third -
Patrick Bevin retires despite contract with DSM-Firmenich-PostNL for 2025
Kiwi thanks team for their support 'throughout an extremely tough last two seasons' -
Pan-Am Cyclocross Championships: Sidney McGill edges Isabella Holmgren for elite women's title
USA's Katie Clouse earns bronze in three-rider sprint finish