With Tourmalet on the menu, the 18th stage promises to be even more sumptuous than the previous day. The peloton will leave Pau at 1.35pm to arrive in Luz-Ardiden around 5.30pm.
The eye of Thierry Gouvenou, technical director of the event
“It’s a classic place but it comes right at the end, at a crucial moment. This is the penultimate highlight of the Tour and the last chance for climbers to make a gap. I don’t see the top names neutralizing themselves in the Tourmalet on such a short stage before only going to Luz-Ardiden to explain themselves. There may still be a beautiful sight. “
Pau, the (almost) obligatory passage
To imagine a Tour de France which does not arrive or leave Pau seems almost as incongruous as to imagine the Tour not finishing on the Champs-Élysées. The city of Bearn has already hosted the Tour 116 times (including the half-stages). Since 2001, only three editions have forgotten the Palois. Beyond the activism of the deputy Josy Poueyto, right arm of François Bayrou and kingpin of the arrival of the Tour in the city, the city of Pau also offers an almost unavoidable hotel capacity when visiting the Pyrenees.
Armstrong’s fall
July 21, 2003, 15th stage Bagnères-de-Bigorre – Luz Ardiden. In difficulty on the ascent of the Tourmalet where Jan Ullrich accelerated, Lance Armstrong glued together and attacked the final ascent towards Luz-Ardiden. The American hangs a spectator on the side of the road and finds himself on the ground, dragging the Spaniard Iban Mayo in his fall. His compatriot Tyler Hamilton ordered the leading group to wait for the yellow jersey, which suffered a chain jump and almost fell again. As soon as he joined the group, Armstrong attacked and flew to victory, 40 ′ ‘ahead of Ullrich. A sufficient mattress to win his fifth Tour which will be withdrawn, like the others, later.
Our prognosis
It is the most beautiful stage in the Pyrenees with the ascent of the legendary Col du Tourmalet before the one that leads to Luz-Ardiden. And many cadors of the peloton, like the day before, want to add it to their list of achievements. A successful breakaway therefore does not seem to be the likely scenario. And as part of an explanation at the top, Tadej Pogacar (UAE), Jonas Vingegaarde (Jumbo-Visma) or Richard Carapaz (Ineos) can repeat their three-way duel at the Col du Portet.
