Stage 18

Stage 18 of the Tour de France takes the race into the Alps.

It's the first of three alpine stages, with 3,900 metres of elevation gain across 185.2 kilometres. The race finishes in the ski resort of Orcières-Merlette after a 7.1-kilometre ascent at an average gradient of 6.7%.

Suited to: attackers with climbings legs Key note: first part of Alpine trilogy