{"id":9015,"date":"2026-07-23T03:43:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T01:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/?p=9015"},"modified":"2026-07-23T04:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T02:40:44","slug":"tour-de-france-2026-stage-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour de France 2026 \u00c9tape 18 : Voiron \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette \u2014 les Alpes ouvertes l\u00e0 o\u00f9 Oca\u00f1a a bris\u00e9 Merckx"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);text-transform:uppercase\">Tour de France 2026 \u00c9tape 18 : Voiron \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette \u2014 les Alpes ouvertes l\u00e0 o\u00f9 Oca\u00f1a a bris\u00e9 Merckx<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><code>Last updated: 4:40 am CEST - Thursday,\u00a023 July 2026<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La 18e \u00e9tape du Tour de France 2026 est une \u00e9tape de montagne de 185,2 kilom\u00e8tres reliant Voiron \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette le jeudi 23 juillet ; il s'agit de la premi\u00e8re des trois \u00e9tapes alpines cons\u00e9cutives qui cl\u00f4turent la course. Elle affiche un d\u00e9nivel\u00e9 positif d'environ 3 900 m\u00e8tres et s'ach\u00e8ve par une ascension finale de 7,1 kilom\u00e8tres menant \u00e0 1 825 m\u00e8tres d'altitude, sur une montagne associ\u00e9e \u00e0 l'une des apr\u00e8s-midis les plus c\u00e9l\u00e8bres de l'histoire du Tour. Le d\u00e9part officiel est fix\u00e9 \u00e0 12 h 50 (CEST) et l'arriv\u00e9e est pr\u00e9vue aux alentours de 17 h 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">C\u2019est aussi, selon les termes m\u00eames d\u2019ASO, la derni\u00e8re grande occasion pour un pur grimpeur \u00e9tranger \u00e0 la lutte pour le classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de remporter une \u00e9tape en solitaire. Deux \u00e9tapes de montagne plus difficiles suivront \u2014 la 19e et la 20e, avec la double ascension de l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez \u2014 et, une fois ces \u00e9tapes arriv\u00e9es, le groupe des favoris devrait verrouiller la course de bien plus pr\u00e8s. Les m\u00e9dias italiens ont une expression pour d\u00e9signer une telle journ\u00e9e : <em>aperitivo prima dell&#8217;abbuffata<\/em> \u2014 the aperitif before the feast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">En bref<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>En quoi consiste la 18e \u00e9tape ?<\/strong> Une \u00e9tape de montagne de 185,2 km, le jeudi 23 juillet, reliant Voiron \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette (1 825 m) pour une arriv\u00e9e au sommet, avec un d\u00e9nivel\u00e9 positif cumul\u00e9 d'environ 3 900 m\u00e8tres. Il s'agit de la premi\u00e8re \u00e9tape du triptyque alpin final du Tour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Pourquoi est-ce important ?<\/strong> C\u2019est la derni\u00e8re occasion r\u00e9aliste pour un grimpeur ne figurant pas dans le top 10 du classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de s\u2019imposer en solitaire avant que la course n\u2019aborde ses terrains les plus difficiles et que les favoris pour la victoire finale ne prennent totalement les commandes. La 17e \u00e9tape s\u2019est sold\u00e9e par la victoire d\u2019une \u00e9chapp\u00e9e \u2014 Jasper Philipsen \u2014 sans modifier le classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral ; la hi\u00e9rarchie reste donc fig\u00e9e et pratiquement inchang\u00e9e \u00e0 l\u2019aube de la 18e \u00e9tape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>L'histoire :<\/strong> C'est \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette que Luis Oca\u00f1a a fait craquer Eddy Merckx en 1971, en roulant en solitaire sur 60 kilom\u00e8tres pour s'imposer avec 8 minutes et 42 secondes d'avance \u2014 ce qui reste l'une des d\u00e9monstrations les plus \u00e9crasantes de l'histoire du Tour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Faits marquants de la 18e \u00e9tape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">D\u00e9tail<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Donn\u00e9es confirm\u00e9es<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Num\u00e9ro de l'\u00e9tape<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Faits marquants de la 18e \u00e9tape<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Date<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Jeudi 23 juillet 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Commencer<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Voiron (Is\u00e8re)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Finition<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Orci\u00e8res-Merlette (Hautes-Alpes)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Distance<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">185.2 km<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">\u00c9l\u00e9vation<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~3,900\u20133,950m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Finish altitude<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">1,825m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Neutralised start<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">12 h 35 CEST<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Official start<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">12:50 CEST<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Est. finish<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~17:25 CEST (range 17:12\u201317:40)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Sprint interm\u00e9diaire<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Corps, km 129<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">M\u00e9t\u00e9o<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">D\u00e9part par temps ensoleill\u00e9, env. 27\u201331 \u00b0C. Arriv\u00e9e en altitude, env. 21\u201323 \u00b0C ; vent l\u00e9ger tout au long du parcours.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_c760d2-83 .kt-block-spacer{height:49px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_c760d2-83 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_c760d2-83\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:500px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id9015_0e4d44-7b alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c{text-align:left;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c{position:relative;}.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column9015_8ce65c-8c\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-left:8px solid #ffff00;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-size:25px;letter-spacing:6px;font-family:\"Lucida Console\", Monaco, monospace;font-weight:inherit;font-style:normal;text-transform:uppercase;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-family:Courier, monospace;font-weight:inherit;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);margin-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-list li{margin-bottom:15px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-list li .kb-table-of-contents-list-sub{margin-top:15px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{border-left:8px solid #ffff00;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{border-left:8px solid #ffff00;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id9015_5d0faf-07 .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-size:22px;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_da3881-ff .kt-block-spacer{height:45px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_da3881-ff .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_da3881-ff\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">La situation actuelle de la 18e \u00e9tape dans la course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La 17e \u00e9tape est termin\u00e9e ; elle a donn\u00e9 lieu \u00e0 un sc\u00e9nario classique d'\u00e9chapp\u00e9e plut\u00f4t qu'au sprint massif que son profil \u00ab plat \u00bb laissait pr\u00e9sager. Jasper Philipsen s'est impos\u00e9 \u2014 signant sa premi\u00e8re victoire d'\u00e9tape sur ce Tour apr\u00e8s une premi\u00e8re quinzaine qu'il a lui-m\u00eame qualifi\u00e9e de difficile \u2014 devant Mauro Schmid et Olav Kooij. Fait important en vue de la 18e \u00e9tape, le classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral reste inchang\u00e9 en t\u00eate : Tadej Poga\u010dar conserve le maillot jaune, Remco Evenepoel occupe la deuxi\u00e8me place \u00e0 4 minutes 32 secondes et Isaac del Toro la troisi\u00e8me \u00e0 6 minutes 51, tandis que Paul Seixas pointe au quatri\u00e8me rang, avec seulement vingt secondes de retard suppl\u00e9mentaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deux noms qui figureraient normalement en t\u00eate d'affiche de toute pr\u00e9sentation d'une \u00e9tape alpine sont totalement absents de l'\u00e9quation. Jonas Vingegaard a abandonn\u00e9 lors de la 15e \u00e9tape apr\u00e8s s'\u00eatre fractur\u00e9 la clavicule, tandis que Florian Lipowitz a d\u00fb quitter la course sur chute durant le contre-la-montre de la 16e \u00e9tape. Tous deux \u00e9taient de s\u00e9rieux pr\u00e9tendants au podium il y a une semaine ; aucun ne prendra le d\u00e9part de la 18e \u00e9tape. Toute analyse pr\u00e9sentant encore la course comme une lutte impliquant l'un ou l'autre de ces coureurs repose sur des informations obsol\u00e8tes : la bataille pour le classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de ce Tour se joue d\u00e9sormais entre Poga\u010dar, Evenepoel, del Toro et Seixas, avec Ayuso et Skjelmose en embuscade.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_aed240-3f .kt-block-spacer{height:48px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_aed240-3f .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_aed240-3f\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">L'itin\u00e9raire : les ascensions du Vercors, la vall\u00e9e du Drac, puis la longue mont\u00e9e en altitude.<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:900px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id9015_1cb0b3-48 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column9015_c39155-86{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column9015_c39155-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column9015_c39155-86\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image9015_8200c0-82 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image9015_8200c0-82 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-9019\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map-18x10.webp 18w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-route-map.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La 18e \u00e9tape quitte Voiron en direction du sud vers Grenoble, mais bifurque avant d'atteindre la ville pour aborder la premi\u00e8re ascension s\u00e9rieuse de la journ\u00e9e. De l\u00e0, le parcours serpente \u00e0 travers le massif du Vercors, descend dans la vall\u00e9e du Drac, remonte vers Monteynard, traverse un haut plateau sur une longue distance, puis entame une mont\u00e9e progressive et quasi ininterrompue sur les 32 derniers kilom\u00e8tres jusqu'\u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:900px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id9015_fed84f-fb alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column9015_9a886b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column9015_9a886b-55\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tour de France 2026 Stage 18 Route Animation | Voiron to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette \u2014 Alpine Trilogy Opens\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CkkQfL8nrsQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La c\u00f4te d\u2019Engins et le faux-plat qui suit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Category 1 | 11.4km | 5.4% | km 36.7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">L\u2019ascension commence v\u00e9ritablement avec la c\u00f4te d\u2019Engins, et l\u2019effort ne s\u2019arr\u00eate pas une fois la section r\u00e9pertori\u00e9e franchie. Un long faux-plat se prolonge jusqu\u2019\u00e0 Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte ; c\u2019est un d\u00e9tail important \u00e0 conna\u00eetre, car le fait que la mont\u00e9e s\u2019ach\u00e8ve \u00ab officiellement \u00bb \u00e0 l\u2019entr\u00e9e du village ne signifie pas pour autant que la route se stabilise. Les coureurs doivent continuer \u00e0 fournir des efforts bien au-del\u00e0 du point o\u00f9, selon la plupart des profils de course, ils pourraient normalement r\u00e9cup\u00e9rer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The uncategorised climbs nobody talks about<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near Grenoble, the route also crosses two smaller uncategorised climbs, Col de la Comboire (1.3km at 6.5%) and Col de la Festini\u00e8re (3.4km at 4.9%). Neither will decide the stage. Both add to a day that&#8217;s considerably busier underfoot than the headline climb count suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monteynard, les hauts plateaux et la C\u00f4te des Terrasses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apr\u00e8s la c\u00f4te d\u2019Engins, la route redescend vers les rives du Drac avant de remonter vers Monteynard : 9,7 kilom\u00e8tres \u00e0 5 % (ascension class\u00e9e en 2e cat\u00e9gorie). S\u2019ensuit le tron\u00e7on le plus singulier de l\u2019\u00e9tape : plut\u00f4t qu\u2019une v\u00e9ritable descente, le parcours se maintient aux alentours de 900 m\u00e8tres d\u2019altitude sur des dizaines de kilom\u00e8tres, encha\u00eenant les faux-plats sans jamais vraiment s\u2019aplanir ni s\u2019\u00e9lever franchement. La c\u00f4te des Terrasses \u2014 3,4 kilom\u00e8tres \u00e0 6,6 % \u2014 constitue la difficult\u00e9 majeure de ce secteur, mais c\u2019est l\u2019accumulation de terrains vallonn\u00e9s alentour qui fait v\u00e9ritablement mal aux organismes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">L\u00e0 o\u00f9 le final commence vraiment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00c0 partir de La Fare-en-Champsaur, alors qu'il reste 32 kilom\u00e8tres \u00e0 parcourir, la route commence \u00e0 s'\u00e9lever pour ne plus redescendre. L'ascension d\u00e9bute en douceur, mais c'est \u00e0 ce stade que les observateurs avertis situent le v\u00e9ritable d\u00e9but du final de l'\u00e9tape \u2014 bien avant que le panneau indiquant le pied de la mont\u00e9e d'Orci\u00e8res-Merlette n'apparaisse sur le profil officiel. La c\u00f4te de Saint-L\u00e9ger-les-M\u00e9l\u00e8zes, longue de 2,5 kilom\u00e8tres avec une pente moyenne de 6,9 \u200b\u200b%, constitue la principale difficult\u00e9 de ce tron\u00e7on. Ainsi, lorsque les coureurs atteignent le pied de l'ascension finale r\u00e9pertori\u00e9e, ils sont en r\u00e9alit\u00e9 d\u00e9j\u00e0 en train de grimper depuis une demi-heure.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_02a823-ca .kt-block-spacer{height:47px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_02a823-ca .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_02a823-ca\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Orci\u00e8res-Merlette : 7,1km \u00e0 6,7%, remarquablement homog\u00e8ne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cat\u00e9gorie 1 | 7,1 km | 6,7 % de moyenne | passages \u00e0 8,2 % | altitude \u00e0 l'arriv\u00e9e : 1 825 m<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">L'ascension finale elle-m\u00eame est presque douce selon les standards actuels du Tour : pas de rampes brutales \u00e0 deux chiffres, pas de virages en \u00e9pingle spectaculaires, mais une pente r\u00e9guli\u00e8re et constante avoisinant les 6,7 % du pied au sommet, avec des passages les plus difficiles atteignant 8,2 %. \u00c0 partir de Saint-L\u00e9ger-les-M\u00e9l\u00e8zes, il s'agit exactement du m\u00eame final que celui emprunt\u00e9 par le Tour en 2020. M\u00eame route, m\u00eame pente, m\u00eames 7,1 derniers kilom\u00e8tres. Ce qui change, c'est le contexte : en 2020, il s'agissait de la 4e \u00e9tape, avec encore trois semaines de course \u00e0 venir et la plupart des favoris au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral soucieux de pr\u00e9server leur position. En 2026, c'est la 18e \u00e9tape ; il ne reste plus que deux \u00e9tapes de montagne apr\u00e8s celle-ci, et plus aucun coureur n'a de raison de se m\u00e9nager.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:400px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id9015_62712e-1a alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column9015_6e3db4-6c\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image9015_7e776f-88 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image9015_7e776f-88\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"758\" src=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/orcieres-merlette-profile.jpg\" alt=\"orcieres-merlette-profile\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-9018\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/orcieres-merlette-profile.jpg 500w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/orcieres-merlette-profile-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/orcieres-merlette-profile-8x12.jpg 8w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_d0cbd1-6f .kt-block-spacer{height:48px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_d0cbd1-6f .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_d0cbd1-6f\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Profil complet de la mont\u00e9e<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:900px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id9015_015c17-34 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column9015_3c1fb2-62\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image9015_d59953-bb .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image9015_d59953-bb size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-9020\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile-18x10.webp 18w, https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tour-de-france-2026-stage-18-profile.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Mont\u00e9<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cat\u00e9gorie<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">km marker<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Distance<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pente moyenne<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Remarques<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">C\u00f4te d&#8217;Engins<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cat. 1<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">36.7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">11.4 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5.4%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Le faux plat se prolonge bien au-del\u00e0 du sommet.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Col de la Comboire<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Non class\u00e9<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~55<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">1.3 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.5%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pr\u00e8s de Grenoble<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Col de la Festini\u00e8re<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Non class\u00e9<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~60<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">3.4 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">4.9%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pr\u00e8s de Grenoble<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">C\u00f4te de Monteynard<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cat. 2<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">92.2<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">9.7 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5.0%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Suivi d'un plateau d'environ 900 m, sans v\u00e9ritable descente.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">C\u00f4te des Terrasses<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cat. 3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">112.8<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">3.4 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.6%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">La rampe la plus difficile de la section centrale vallonn\u00e9e<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">C\u00f4te de Saint-L\u00e9ger-les-M\u00e9l\u00e8zes<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cat. 3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">166.2<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2.5 km<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.9%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Marque le d\u00e9but du v\u00e9ritable final, \u00e0 19 km de l'arriv\u00e9e.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Orci\u00e8res-Merlette<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Cat. 1<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>185.2<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>7.1 km<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>6.7%<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Des rampes \u00e0 8,2 %. Altitude d'arriv\u00e9e : 1 825 m. Identique au final de 2020.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">1971 : le jour o\u00f9 Oca\u00f1a a bris\u00e9 Merckx<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La r\u00e9putation d\u2019Orci\u00e8res-Merlette dans l\u2019histoire du cyclisme repose presque enti\u00e8rement sur une seule apr\u00e8s-midi. Le 8 juillet 1971, lors d\u2019une \u00e9tape de 134 kilom\u00e8tres au d\u00e9part de Grenoble, Luis Oca\u00f1a porta une attaque dans la c\u00f4te de Laffrey, accrut son avance au col du Noyer, puis parcourut en solitaire les 60 derniers kilom\u00e8tres jusqu\u2019\u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette. Eddy Merckx, alors en qu\u00eate d\u2019un troisi\u00e8me titre cons\u00e9cutif sur le Tour et consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme quasi invincible, ne put rien y faire. Oca\u00f1a franchit la ligne d\u2019arriv\u00e9e avec 8 minutes et 42 secondes d\u2019avance sur lui, s\u2019empara du maillot jaune et accomplit un exploit que presque personne n\u2019avait r\u00e9ussi face \u00e0 Merckx en quatre ans : il fit appara\u00eetre le plus grand cycliste de sa g\u00e9n\u00e9ration comme un simple mortel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cela ne dura pas. Quelques jours plus tard, dans les Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es, lors de la descente du col de Ment\u00e9 effectu\u00e9e sous un violent orage, Merckx perdit le contr\u00f4le de son v\u00e9lo et percuta un muret. Oca\u00f1a, qui le suivait de pr\u00e8s, ne put \u00e9viter la collision et chuta lourdement ; peinant \u00e0 d\u00e9chausser, il fut percut\u00e9 une seconde fois par Joop Zoetemelk, qui arrivait derri\u00e8re lui. Merckx se releva et repartit. Oca\u00f1a, lui, ne se releva pas : \u00e9vacu\u00e9 par h\u00e9licopt\u00e8re vers l'h\u00f4pital, il tenta bien de poursuivre le Tour les jours suivants, mais finit par abandonner en raison d'une bronchite, offrant ainsi \u00e0 Merckx un troisi\u00e8me titre sans que celui-ci ait besoin de donner le moindre coup de p\u00e9dale suppl\u00e9mentaire. Oca\u00f1a prendrait finalement sa revanche deux ans plus tard en remportant le Tour 1973, en l'absence de Merckx. Toutefois, l'\u00e9tape d'Orci\u00e8res-Merlette reste celle qui a marqu\u00e9 les esprits : le jour o\u00f9 le champion invincible a sembl\u00e9 vuln\u00e9rable, suivi de cette chute qui a emp\u00each\u00e9 de savoir ce qu'il en aurait r\u00e9ellement \u00e9t\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_02146c-be .kt-block-spacer{height:50px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_02146c-be .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_02146c-be\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2020 : victoire de Rogli\u010d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La derni\u00e8re fois que le Tour s'est achev\u00e9 \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette, lors de la 4e \u00e9tape de l'\u00e9dition 2020, le sc\u00e9nario avait \u00e9t\u00e9 bien diff\u00e9rent : un groupe restreint s'\u00e9tait pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 group\u00e9, avec l'\u00e9quipe Jumbo-Visma contr\u00f4lant le rythme dans l'ascension finale avant que Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d ne r\u00e9ponde \u00e0 une attaque tardive de Guillaume Martin pour s'imposer. Tadej Poga\u010dar avait pris la deuxi\u00e8me place, dans le m\u00eame temps que Rogli\u010d, tandis que Martin compl\u00e9tait le podium. La plupart des favoris au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral avaient ralli\u00e9 l'arriv\u00e9e sans encombre au sein de ce m\u00eame groupe, seule une poign\u00e9e d'entre eux conc\u00e9dant un temps significatif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ce r\u00e9sultat rec\u00e8le aujourd'hui une ironie saisissante. La victoire de Rogli\u010d \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette avait \u00e9t\u00e9 per\u00e7ue, \u00e0 l'\u00e9poque, comme la preuve d'une forme dominante en ce d\u00e9but de Tour \u2014 ce qui fut effectivement le cas jusqu'au contre-la-montre individuel de la 20e \u00e9tape, o\u00f9 Poga\u010dar r\u00e9alisa l'une des performances les plus \u00e9poustouflantes de l'histoire moderne de l'\u00e9preuve pour combler son retard et s'adjuger le titre. Le coureur battu \u00e0 Orci\u00e8res-Merlette en 2020 a fini par remporter l'\u00e9preuve tout enti\u00e8re. La montagne a cette habitude de ne pas livrer toute l'histoire.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_db4394-ca .kt-block-spacer{height:50px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_db4394-ca .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_db4394-ca\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Derni\u00e8re chance pour l'\u00e9chapp\u00e9e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La 18e \u00e9tape rev\u00eat une importance capitale pour les coureurs qui, sans r\u00e9elle chance d'atteindre le podium du classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral, peuvent l\u00e9gitimement viser une victoire d'\u00e9tape. ASO la pr\u00e9sente comme la derni\u00e8re occasion pour les bons grimpeurs de s'illustrer via une \u00e9chapp\u00e9e ; en effet, les 19e et 20e \u00e9tapes proposeront un terrain et des enjeux tels que les \u00e9quipes des favoris devraient imposer une course beaucoup plus verrouill\u00e9e et agressive, rendant la survie d'une \u00e9chapp\u00e9e nettement plus difficile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La situation de l'\u00e9quipe Visma-Lease a Bike ajoute une dimension suppl\u00e9mentaire \u00e0 ce sc\u00e9nario. Avec l'abandon de Vingegaard, la formation a ouvertement r\u00e9orient\u00e9 ses ambitions restantes vers la conqu\u00eate d'\u00e9tapes ; Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss et Davide Piganzoli sont tous cit\u00e9s comme des coureurs d\u00e9sormais en qu\u00eate d'opportunit\u00e9s quotidiennes, plut\u00f4t que charg\u00e9s de prot\u00e9ger un leader au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral qui n'existe plus. Une \u00e9quipe n'ayant plus rien \u00e0 d\u00e9fendre et disposant de plusieurs grimpeurs talentueux est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment celle qui est susceptible d'animer une journ\u00e9e comme celle-ci.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_32d0f5-6f .kt-block-spacer{height:49px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_32d0f5-6f .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_32d0f5-6f\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pronostic du vainqueur de l'\u00e9tape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\"><strong>Favoris :<\/strong> Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) et Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) se pr\u00e9sentent comme les favoris les mieux cot\u00e9s ; tous deux ont fait leurs preuves sur ce type pr\u00e9cis d'arriv\u00e9e au sommet en haute altitude avec une pente r\u00e9guli\u00e8re, et tous deux courent pour des \u00e9quipes qui n'ont pas de leader au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral \u00e0 prot\u00e9ger aujourd'hui.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\"><strong>Outsiders :<\/strong> On ne peut \u00e9carter Tadej Poga\u010dar lui-m\u00eame si l'\u00e9quipe UAE Team Emirates-XRG juge utile d'accentuer encore son avance plut\u00f4t que de g\u00e9rer ses efforts, bien qu'une course sans forcer \u00e0 100 % soit tout aussi plausible compte tenu du terrain restant \u00e0 parcourir. Sepp Kuss et Davide Piganzoli incarnent les atouts de Visma pour la chasse aux \u00e9tapes, tandis que Tobias Halland Johannessen et Tom Pidcock poss\u00e8dent tous deux le moteur n\u00e9cessaire pour briller sur ce type de parcours, sans \u00eatre frein\u00e9s par des imp\u00e9ratifs li\u00e9s au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\"><strong>Les outsiders :<\/strong> Remco Evenepoel pourrait passer \u00e0 l'offensive s'il estime que le terrain lui convient mieux qu'\u00e0 del Toro ou Seixas, bien que la d\u00e9fense de sa deuxi\u00e8me place au classement g\u00e9n\u00e9ral reste probablement la priorit\u00e9. Egan Bernal, Alex Baudin, Thymen Arensman, Luke Plapp, Pablo Castrillo et Lenny Martinez compl\u00e8tent un plateau de grimpeurs tr\u00e8s relev\u00e9, capables de cr\u00e9er la surprise dans un bon jour.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_4fd9f9-ae .kt-block-spacer{height:50px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_4fd9f9-ae .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_4fd9f9-ae\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">GC picture: still quiet, but not for long<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pos<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Cavalier<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">\u00c9quipe<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">\u00c9cart<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">1<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Chef<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Remco Evenepoel<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+4:32<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Isaac del Toro<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+6:51<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">4<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Paul Seixas<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Decathlon CMA CGM<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+7:11<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Juan Ayuso<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Lidl-Trek<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+9:22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Lenny Martinez<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Bahrain Victorious<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+10:14<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Mattias Skjelmose<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Lidl-Trek<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+12:50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">8<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Tom Pidcock<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pinarello-Q36.5<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">+12:58<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>The gap that matters most right now sits just below the podium: Seixas is only twenty seconds behind del Toro for third place and the white jersey that comes with it. Stage 18&#8217;s steady, non-explosive final climb isn&#8217;t the kind of terrain that typically blows a 20-second gap wide open \u2014 but with Stages 19 and 20 still to come, including the Alpe d&#8217;Huez double, nobody in that fight is treating today as low-stakes.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_f56083-f5 .kt-block-spacer{height:49px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_f56083-f5 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_f56083-f5\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">World start times and how to watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Time zone<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">R\u00e9gion<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Official start<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Est. finish<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">CEST (UTC+2)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">France, Germany, Italy<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>12:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~17:25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">BST (UTC+1)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">United Kingdom, Ireland<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>11:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~16:25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">EDT (UTC-4)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">New York, Miami<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>06:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~11:25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">CDT (UTC-5)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Chicago, Dallas<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>05:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~10:25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">PDT (UTC-7)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Los Angeles, Seattle<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>03:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~08:25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">IST (UTC+5:30)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">India<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>16:20<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~20:55<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">AEST (UTC+10)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Sydney, Melbourne<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>20:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~01:25 +1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">NZST (UTC+12)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">New Zealand<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>22:50<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">~03:25 +1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>How to watch: see <a href=\"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6926\">live viewing guide<\/a>:<\/strong> Eurosport carries the stage across most of Europe, with HBO Max offering a streaming alternative in the same region. In the US, NBC Sports and Peacock have coverage; FloSports carries it in Canada. SBS broadcasts free in Australia, Sky Sport covers New Zealand, and in Italy the stage airs free on Rai 2 between 14:00 and 18:00, with Eurosport and Discovery+ extending coverage from 12:30 to 18:00 for anyone wanting the full stage rather than the condensed window.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_db6081-73 .kt-block-spacer{height:49px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_db6081-73 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_db6081-73\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Equipment for the first Alpine stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stage 18 marks the point in the race where gearing choices shift meaningfully. After a run of transitional and rolling stages, teams move to full climbing setups, compact chainsets and wider-range cassettes built for a sustained high-altitude effort rather than the punchier, shorter climbs of the past week. It&#8217;s a small technical detail, but it&#8217;s also a signal: this is the day the Tour visibly becomes a mountain race again, in the equipment choices as much as the terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_1a3a6b-be .kt-block-spacer{height:50px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_1a3a6b-be .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_1a3a6b-be\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spectator guide \u2014 Voiron and Orci\u00e8res-Merlette<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>C\u00f4te d&#8217;Engins:<\/strong> The first proper test of the day and a good early vantage point for genuine climbing effort, before the race disappears into the Vercors and the long rolling middle section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Orci\u00e8res-Merlette finish:<\/strong> The clear highlight. A summit finish at 1,825 metres on the edge of the \u00c9crins National Park, with the added weight of the 1971 history attached to every metre of the final climb. Expect a strong crowd given both the scenery and the stage&#8217;s status as the Alpine trilogy&#8217;s opening statement.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_a0cf3d-6c .kt-block-spacer{height:49px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_a0cf3d-6c .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_a0cf3d-6c\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is\u00e8re and Hautes-Alpes \u2014 food and culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voiron carries the same Chartreuse liqueur heritage covered for Stage 17&#8217;s finish in the same town, the historic distillery, run by Carthusian monks since the 18th century, sits just outside the town centre and remains one of the most distinctive culinary landmarks anywhere on this year&#8217;s route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further along, as the race crosses into the Hautes-Alpes and the Champsaur and D\u00e9voluy regions near the finish, the food shifts toward heartier mountain fare: tourton, a savoury or sweet stuffed pastry particular to this corner of the Alps, and g\u00e9n\u00e9pi, the herbal Alpine liqueur that turns up across multiple regions this Tour has passed through, each valley insisting its version is the definitive one.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_604262-49 .kt-block-spacer{height:50px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-9015_604262-49 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-9015_604262-49\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ \u2014 Tour de France 2026 Stage 18<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stage 18 is a 185.2km mountain stage from Voiron to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette on Thursday 23 July 2026, the first of three consecutive Alpine stages that close the race. It carries approximately 3,900 metres of climbing and finishes with a 7.1km summit climb to 1,825 metres altitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who is leading the Tour de France 2026 heading into Stage 18?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tadej Poga\u010dar leads heading into Stage 18, with Remco Evenepoel second at 4 minutes 32 seconds behind, and Isaac del Toro third at 6:51. Paul Seixas sits fourth, just 20 seconds behind del Toro. Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz, both previously podium contenders, are no longer in the race after separate crashes on Stage 15 and Stage 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What happened at Orci\u00e8res-Merlette in 1971?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1971, Luis Oca\u00f1a attacked Eddy Merckx on the road from Grenoble and rode alone for the final 60 kilometres into Orci\u00e8res-Merlette, winning by 8 minutes and 42 seconds and taking the yellow jersey. It remains one of the most dominant single-stage performances against Merckx during his career. Days later, Merckx crashed on a mountain descent while Oca\u00f1a was following closely; Oca\u00f1a was also brought down and later abandoned the race, allowing Merckx to win the title regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Has the Tour de France finished at Orci\u00e8res-Merlette before?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Orci\u00e8res-Merlette has hosted a Tour de France finish twice before 2026: in 1971, when Luis Oca\u00f1a&#8217;s solo attack made the climb famous, and in 2020, when Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d won a select-group sprint ahead of Tadej Poga\u010dar. The 2026 finish uses the same final climb as the 2020 stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Stage 18 considered the last chance for the breakaway?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stage 18 is widely described as the final realistic opportunity for a climber outside the general classification picture to win a stage solo, since the two Alpine stages that follow \u2014 including the Alpe d&#8217;Huez double finish \u2014 are expected to be controlled far more tightly by the remaining GC contenders. Teams without a GC leader left in contention, including Visma-Lease a Bike since Vingegaard&#8217;s withdrawal, have shifted focus toward exactly this kind of stage-hunting opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How hard is the final climb to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final climb to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette is 7.1 kilometres at an average gradient of 6.7%, with the steepest sections reaching 8.2%. It is considered a relatively even, non-explosive climb by modern Tour standards, without the sharp double-digit ramps found on climbs like the Col du Haag or Plateau de Solaison earlier in this Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What other climbs are on the Stage 18 route?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Besides the final Orci\u00e8res-Merlette climb, Stage 18 features C\u00f4te d&#8217;Engins (11.4km at 5.4%), C\u00f4te de Monteynard (9.7km at 5%), C\u00f4te des Terrasses (3.4km at 6.6%), and C\u00f4te de Saint-L\u00e9ger-les-M\u00e9l\u00e8zes (2.5km at 6.9%), along with two uncategorised climbs near Grenoble \u2014 Col de la Comboire and Col de la Festini\u00e8re \u2014 that rarely appear in English-language race previews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Stage 18 likely to change the GC standings?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Significant GC changes are considered unlikely on Stage 18, since the final climb&#8217;s steady gradient doesn&#8217;t typically produce large time gaps and most contenders are expected to conserve energy for the harder terrain of Stages 19 and 20. The tightest current battle \u2014 Paul Seixas just 20 seconds behind Isaac del Toro for the final podium position \u2014 is more likely to be decided in the Alps that follow than on this stage specifically.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tour de France 2026 Stage 18: Voiron to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette \u2014 the Alps Open Where Oca\u00f1a Broke Merckx Last updated: 4:40 am CEST &#8211; Thursday,\u00a023 July 2026 Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026 is a 185.2-kilometre mountain stage from Voiron to Orci\u00e8res-Merlette on Thursday 23 July, the first of three consecutive Alpine stages that&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tour-de-france"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":28,"label":"Tour de France"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/franceletour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tdf-stage-18-1024x536.webp",1024,536,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Gautier Durfort","author_link":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/author\/gautier-durfort\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":28,"name":"Tour de France","slug":"tour-de-france","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":28,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Live the Tour de France cycling race. Get stage results, route maps, team insights, and historical highlights from every edition of Le Grand Boucle.","parent":0,"count":91,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":28,"category_count":91,"category_description":"Live the Tour de France cycling race. Get stage results, route maps, team insights, and historical highlights from every edition of Le Grand Boucle.","cat_name":"Tour de France","category_nicename":"tour-de-france","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9015"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9031,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9015\/revisions\/9031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}