Tour de France 2026: Preview of Stage 18: The start of the triple in the High Alps

​Key information on Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France

• Thursday, 23 July: Voiron – Orcières-Merlette
• 185.2 kilometres, 3,900 metres of elevation gain (mountain finish)
• Mountain classifications: km 36.7 (1st category), km 92.2 (2nd category), km 112.8 (3rd category), km 163.5 (3rd category), km 185.2 (1st category)
• Intermediate sprint: 147.5 km
• Start: 12.35 pm, Finish: approx. 5.12 pm
• Live updates and results

The route of the 18th stage of the Tour de France

Voiron, the destination of the previous stage, is also the starting point for the 18th stage to the Orcières-Merlette ski resort at 1,825 metres above sea level. The stage begins at an altitude of 200 metres, which gives a hint of the day’s climb.

The first 23 kilometres of the day in the Isère valley are, however, completely flat. Shortly before Grenoble, however, the route leaves the flatlands behind and heads for Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte. This small village of 1,000 inhabitants, situated at 1,170 metres in the Vercors mountains, is reached via the Côte d’Engins (1st category). Eleven and a half kilometres at an average gradient of 5.4 per cent are listed for the mountain classification, but the route into the village is a further 16 kilometres long. The route does, however, level out towards the end.

At Vif, the route heads back down into the valley and follows the River Drac, which is dammed at Monteynard. Along the reservoir and over the mountain pass of the same name (2nd category), the terrain climbs again and then remains at a steady elevation for the next 70 kilometres or so, including short descents and counter-gradients.

The next significant climb doesn’t come until the final ascent up to Orcières, although this again extends well beyond the actual mountain classification (Category 1). This begins seven kilometres from the finish and has a gradient of 6.7 per cent. Overall, the terrain climbs steadily over the final 20 kilometres of the day. Between kilometre 6 and the Teufelslappen, there is a succession of hairpin bends. The final 1,000 metres are relatively straight.

A sporting analysis of Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France

With the two remaining mountain stages – both finishing at Alpe d’Huez – still to come, today’s stage, finishing in Orcières, is the easiest of the lot. And that is perhaps why it also represents the last chance for breakaway riders to claim a stage win. Particularly with the early, points-rich climb at the start of the stage, it is especially interesting for all those battling for the mountains’ jersey who want to secure ten points with relatively little effort.

But the battle for the stage win could well be within reach here too. Although there are 3,900 metres of climbing on the programme, the climbs are relatively easy to ride. They add up over the relatively long distance, and even the final climb is perfectly manageable for a good climber who arrives there with a two-minute lead over Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), precisely because it isn’t excessively steep.

So the main contenders are likely to be riders such as Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) or Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost), but perhaps also the Netcompany INEOS mountain group led by Egan Bernal, Thymen Arensman and Kevin Vauquelin, who have nothing to lose in the general classification.