Cycling in Yorkshire
Cycling in Yorkshire
Stage 17 | Stage 18 | Stage 19
Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2022 is the last mountain stage, and could be the scene of a battle royale among the GC contenders. The race organisers' intention is that there should be no respite.
There are three categorised climbs - the Col d'Aubisque, the Col de Spandelles, and the summit finish at Hautacam.
The last time the Tour de France finished at Hautacam was on Stage 18 of the 2014 edition, when Vincenzo Nibali won.
This is the Stage 18 TDF 2022 Blog.
| Date | Thursday 21st July 2022 |
|---|---|
| Stage classification | Mountain |
| Distance | 143.2km |
| Intermediate sprint | Laruns |
| Climbs | Col d'Aubisque (HC) Col de Spandelles (Cat. 1) Hautacam (HC) |
There's an annoying video map of Stage 18:
This is the profile of Stage 18, Tour de France 2022:
| Caravan | Fast Schedule | Slow Schedule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Time (départ fictif) | 1130 | 1330 | 1330 |
| Start Time (départ réel) | 1140 | 1340 | 1340 |
| Intermediate Sprint (58.5km) | 1308 | 1500 | 1508 |
| Col de Spandelles (110km) | No Caravan | 1631 | 1653 |
| Finish Line (143.2km) | 1554 |
1725 | 1754 |
Stage 18 starts in Lourdes.
Lourdes is a market town of around 15,000 people, but which receives 6 million visitors every year.
This site was probably inhabited in prehistoric times. There was a Gallo-Roman settlement, and some traces of Roman walls, statues, and votive offerings have been found during works to the fort. During the One Hundred Years War, the English occupied Lourdes, from 1360 to 1407.
The attraction of Lourdes comes from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a 14-year-old girl called Bernadette Soubiros in 1858. (Mary appeared to her eighteen times in total). Soubiros saw a beautiful lady at the Massabielle grotto, and the lady said that she was the Immaculate Conception. Soubiros reported this to her priest, Father Peyremale. The lady also told Soubiros to drink from a source. This spring still produces water, and pilgrims are able to bathe in it; it is said to have occasioned miracle cures.
There's a fort in Lourdes, originally built in Roman times; the oldest surviving parts are from the C11th and C12th. The fort houses a Pyrenean museum. The town is overlooked by three peaks: le Béout, Petit Jer, and Grand Jer. A funicular railway called the Pic du Jer goes up to the Grand Jer.
Stage 18 starts by the Basilique Saint-Pie X (départ fictif) and crosses the river (the Gave de Pau). It heads along rue de la Grotte and avenue Maréhchal Foch. Km 0 is on the route d'Argèles.
The riders cross the river again and take the road around a peak called le Béout, to Ossen and Ségus. Then the race route joins the D937 and heads west alongside the Gave de Pau.
The riders go through Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre, and Lestelle-Bétharram where there is a religious sanctuary.
Next it's left on the D35, passing close to the Asson Zoo. Then the riders reach the D934 and head south alongside the Gave d'Ossau to Laruns.
The intermediate sprint is at Laruns, after 58.5km.
After Laruns, the climb of the Col d'Aubisque begins.
The Col d'Aubisque climb takes the riders through Eaux-Bonnes and the ski resort of Gourette to the top of the col at 1,709m. It is 16.4km at an average gradient of 7.1%.
After the summit, the riders descend to the Corniche road.
There's then a bit of uphill to the Col du Soulor (1,474m).
From the Col du Soulor, Stage 18 takes the minor D126 for a steep descent to the hamlet of Ferrières. Soon after Ferrières, the peloton takes an even smaller road for the ascent of the Col de Spandelles.
The Col de Spandelles is a real back-road. Cycle Fiesta calls it 'relatively unknown' and 'a tough test'. It's steep and crisp and even, with an average gradient of 8.3% over 10.3km.
The descent from the Col de Spandelles is to Argelès-Gazost.
The route then crosses the Gave de Pau to Ayros-Arbouix, where the final climb to Hautacam begins.
The Hautacam climb is also known as the Col de Tramassel.
It is 13.6km at an average gradient of 7.8%, and the summit is at 1,520m.
Vincenzo Nibali won at Hautacam in 2014.
That was a dominant performance by a yellow jersey, and I guess Stage 18 of the 2022 Tour de France could see the same, with Vingegaard winning. If not, will it be Pogacar, Romain Bardet, or perhaps Geraint Thomas?
Maybe Brandon McNulty will emerge as the strongest rider in the race.
Who do you think will win Stage 18?
Rough Guide to France.
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