Tour de France 2024: Stage 18 Preview
A Mont Ventoux Finish
Gap to Mont Ventoux - 144.9km
The Tour de France peloton faces one of the most iconic climbs in cycling on Friday when they tackle Mont Ventoux. The 144.9km stage from Gap will be the first summit finish of this year's race, and it is sure to be a decisive moment in the battle for the yellow jersey.
Mont Ventoux is a 19.1km climb with an average gradient of 7.4%. The ascent is divided into three distinct sections, with the first 6km being relatively gentle, the middle section being much steeper, and the final 6km being a gradual climb to the summit. The climb is often affected by strong winds, which can make it even more difficult.
This will be the first time that Mont Ventoux has been included in the Tour de France since 2016, when Chris Froome won the stage. The British rider is one of the favorites to win the stage again this year, but he will face stiff competition from the likes of Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič, and Jonas Vingegaard.
The stage is likely to be decided on the final climb, and it will be fascinating to see who has the strongest legs on the day. The winner of the stage will take a big step towards winning the Tour de France, and the race is sure to be wide open after this decisive stage.
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