Stage 18 | Thursday, 24 July 2025 | Vif - Courchevel | 171.5 kilometres | 5450 vertical metres
Jens Voigt's assessment of the 18th stage
I would call the 18th stage a "Pogačar day": There are three mountain classifications over the 171 kilometres today including the mountain arrival at the Col de la Loze, at 2304 metres the roof of this Tour de France. The climbs at the Col du Glandon (highest category: Hors Catégorie/HC), Col de la Madeleine (HC) and Col de la Loze (HC. Cat.) are all close to or above the 2000 metre mark and are an incredible 67 kilometres long. In total there are 5450 metres of climbing! A very important day for the classification riders. And ideal for a long solo ride, as known from Tadej Pogačar.
There will certainly be a very strong breakaway group at the front today, which could also win the stage. For the classification riders, a strong and complete team is important today, because the final climb is very long and every classification rider needs at least three helpers at his side for the last 26 kilometres up to the Col de la Loze.
Once the riders have passed Courchevel and shortly afterwards the small airfield, the route continues for around four kilometres along a kind of cycle path, a very narrow road that was only asphalted a few years ago, to the day's finish. For all the sprinters and those in the peloton who are struggling, this day is pure survival. You could call this stage the queen stage of this Tour, but the third Pyrenean stage (14th) to Superbagnères and tomorrow's stage are also very difficult.
Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of the 18th stage of the Tour de France 2025
- Neutral start: 12:10 pm, sharp start 12:20 pm
- Estimated arrival time: between 17:12 and 17:50
- TV broadcast: ARD 14:10-17:55, Eurosport 1 12:00-17:30
- Live stream: sportschau.de, Discovery Plus (fee required)
- All stages of the Tour de France 2025 at a glance
Highlights of the 18th stage
- 14:00: If you want to win the best climber's jersey, you should be at the front now. The first of the day's three HC climbs on the Col du Glandon.
- 16:10: Start of a long elimination race? The Col de la Loze will be ridden from the flatter side this time: It's 26 kilometres uphill (6.5% gradient)
TOUR expert Jens Voigt
Nobody in the German-speaking world knows the Tour de France better: Jens Voigt competed in the most important cycling race as a professional a total of 17 times between 1998 and 2014. Only the Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, the current record holder, has managed one more participation. Voigt knows the race from the perspective of the winner and the tireless helper in the team. He won two stages himself and wore the yellow jersey for one day each in 2001 and 2005. In 2010, as a team-mate in Team Saxo Bank, he accompanied Luxembourg's Andy Schleck to his overall victory (after the doping disqualification of Alberto Contador, who initially came first; editor's note). The 53-year-old Berliner currently works as a brand ambassador for the bike manufacturer Trek and as a pundit for the Eurosport channel.
For TOUR readers, the former pro gives his predictions for the course of the 21 stages, points out difficulties and things worth seeing. For each day's stage, he gives a tip on what role the course could play in the final standings in the individual classifications in Paris. If three of the jerseys are coloured, this means that this day could be decisive for this classification - i.e. overall classification (yellow), sprint/points classification (green) and classification of the best climber (red dotted jersey). We also give you the broadcast times of the TV channels in Germany (ARD and Eurosport) and their live streams - plus tips on when it might be particularly worth tuning in.
