Tour de France stage 18 preview: Pogacar leads into Alps as podium battle heats up on five-climb day to Orcières-Merlette
The 185 km stage from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette features five categorised climbs and 3,900 metres of elevation gain, with Tadej Pogacar holding a 4'32" lead over Remco Evenepoel.
Stage profile
The 18th stage of the 2026 Tour de France will take the peloton 185.2 kilometres from Voiron, in the Isère department, to the ski resort of Orcières-Merlette in the Hautes-Alpes. Riders will tackle five categorised climbs and accumulate 3,900 metres of elevation gain. The first ascent, the category-1 Côte d'Engins (11.4 km at 5.4%), begins after 36 kilometres of racing. It is followed by the category-2 Côte de Monteynard (9.7 km at 5%), then two category-3 climbs: the Côte des Terrasses (3.4 km at 6.6%) and the Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (2.5 km at 6.9%). The stage concludes with a summit finish at Orcières-Merlette, a 7.1-kilometre climb averaging 6.7% that tops out at 1,825 metres above sea level. This is the first of three consecutive Alpine stages that will shape the final general classification before the race reaches Paris on Sunday 26 July.
- Category 1, 11.4 km at 5.4%
- Category 2, 9.7 km at 5%
- Category 3, 3.4 km at 6.6%
- Category 3, 2.5 km at 6.9%
- Summit finish, 7.1 km at 6.7%, altitude 1,825 m
General classification context
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) will start the day in the yellow jersey, holding a lead of 4 minutes and 32 seconds over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step). The general classification was reshaped on stage 15 when Jonas Vingegaard, then second overall, abandoned the race. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) currently sits in third place, with French rider Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) just outside the podium positions. The three Alpine stages that begin today are the final opportunity for riders to gain time before the largely ceremonial final stage in Paris.
Favorites and stage victory prospects
Pogacar has already won four stages in this edition and is the favourite to add a fifth on the climb to Orcières-Merlette. Evenepoel, now his closest rival, could also target a stage victory to strengthen his hold on second place. The battle for the final podium spot is set to intensify, with Seixas aiming to overtake Del Toro. Other climbers identified by Franceinfo as potential stage winners include Richard Carapaz (EF Education) and Egan Bernal (Netcompany INEOS), both still seeking their first victory of the 2026 Tour. Among the French contingent, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Alex Baudin (EF Education) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) are all chasing a first home stage win of the race.
Timing, caravan and broadcast
The publicity caravan, which distributes sponsor goodies along the route, will depart Voiron at 10:25 and travel between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of the riders. The peloton is scheduled to roll out at 12:35, with the expected arrival at Orcières-Merlette at 15:52. Television coverage in France begins at 12:00 on France 2 or France 3 and the france.tv streaming platform.
