TDF 2024:-Stage 18: Gap – Barcelonette, 179.5km ***Spoilers***
Stage 18: Gap – Barcelonette, 179.5km
July 18th.
Start Time: 12-00BST.
Stage 18 of the Tour de France takes place between Gap and Barcelonnette. The riders face a series of moderate climbs and they are to conquer an elevation gain of approximately 3,100 metres over a 179.5 kilometres route. The parcours crosses the Lac de Serre Ponçon, then heads into the hills. The Tour de France finished in Gap (the start town today) on Stage 16 of the 2011 edition. Thor Hushovd beat Edvald Boasson Hagen that day. Barcelonnette never before hosted a Tour de France stage finish.
Profile.
![stage-18-tdf-2024-profile[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/JS1SO9NT6NFJ/stage-18-tdf-2024-profile-5b1-5d.jpg)
Map.
![stage-18-tdf-2024-map[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/OD5TAB6LLZP4/stage-18-tdf-2024-map-5b1-5d.jpg)
The Climbs.
Col du Festre (Cat. 3) 13.8km @ 4.3%
Côte de Corps (Cat. 3) 2.6km @ 6%
Col de Manse (Cat. 3) 6.3km @ 3.7%
Côte de Saint-Apollinaire (Cat. 3) 7.9km @ 5.2%
Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées (Cat. 3) 6.4km @ 3.8%
Final Kilometres.
![stage-18-route-finale[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/F70FSBFFABKX/stage-18-route-finale-5b1-5d.jpg)
![stage-18-profile-finale[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/1RNTPPU5U2WN/stage-18-profile-finale-5b1-5d.jpg)
What to Expect.
On paper, a perfect setup for attackers. The Côte de Saint-Apollinaire and the Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées provide opportunities for puncheurs like Mathieu van der Poel or Mads Pedersen to break clear. It’s likely the top riders will save their energy for that. Plus, the final part of the race to Barcelonnette isn’t too tough, so the potential time gained isn’t worth the effort.
Gap
Stage town for the 27th time
Prefecture of Hautes-Alpes
Population: 41,000
GAP AND CYCLING
Ever since the first victory by Belgian "locomotive" Jef Demuysère in 1931, Gap has regularly made an appointment with the Tour de France, often as a launch pad to the summits (Briançon or Alpe d'Huez), but also as a prestigious finish. Long-distance attackers have enjoyed success here, such as Jean-François Bernard, who made his name here in 1986, and Pierrick Fédrigo twenty years later. In 2011 and 2013, Gap saw rainbows fly past, as Thor Hushovd and then Rui Costa won here with the world champion's jersey on their backs. Over the last few years, Gap has been a favourite with attackers.
Specialities: Tourton du Champsaur (potato and fromage frais fritters), Oreilles d'âne (fresh pasta and spinach gratin), Ravioles of Champsaur, chèvre salée (goat's cheese stew).
Tourtons of Champsaur
Tourtons are a delicious speciality of the Champsaur region, made in the past for festive occasions. They take the form of a thin cushion of pastry filled with mashed potatoes, fresh tomme cheese and onions. Once fried, tourtons are served with a green salad or meat.
![l-assiette-du-champsaur[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/CRMC8CXC7ZKI/l-assiette-du-champsaur-5b1-5d.jpg)
Barcelonnette
City stage for the second time.
Sub-prefecture of Alpes de Haute-Provence
Population: 2,700
BARCELONETTE AND CYCLING
The only time Barcelonnette featured in the history of the Tour de France was in 1975 as the start of a short stage won by Bernard Thévenet in Serre-Chevalier. That day, the Frenchman beat Eddy Merckx to the line by 2:22 to extend his lead over the Belgian in the overall classification just a few days before the finish.
Specialities: Ubaye ravioles, tourtons, cheeses. Donkey's ears. Genepi.
Ubaye ravioles
Ravioles of l'Ubaye and Champsaur, also known as prëires or brouquetons, are small potato and cheese (or Roquefort) doughnuts served with a green salad and traditionally served with liquid honey and red fruit jam (blueberries, raspberries, etc.). They can also be served grated (with crème fraîche and cheese), as an accompaniment to meat.
![48946_w1024h768c1cx2592cy1728[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/46ZJZTNO6CPI/48946-w1024h768c1cx2592cy1728-5b1-5d.jpg)
Comments
-
Specialities: Ubaye ravioles, tourtons, cheeses. Donkey's ears. Genepi.
WTF? It's a bloody good thing Pinot's retired, he'd be livid. So would any one of a host of now retired cyclists, according to this old thread (skip the very brief BB LA interlude...)
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
I don't think even @No_Ta_Doctor will be picking Mads Pedersen for this stage.
1 -
Tailor made for
Søren Kragh AndersenCasper PedersenMagnus Cort this one.Warning No formatter is installed for the format1 -
i’d forgotten that unusual facts thread. Happy days!
1 -
Yeah, had an enjoyable half-hour revisiting it, I think my favourite bit is FF's sheer outrage that people were making stupid stuff up.
Warning No formatter is installed for the format1 -
Imagine his state of confliction when it turned out Dirty Bertie might not be 100% straight.
(Who am I kidding? FF would simply have claimed nobody else ever lied with such panache)
0 -
Heavyweight True Fanboi
Tbh, I think part of what eventually saw him leave the forum was the inability to admit that Bertie might have been caught with his pants down. The other part was, of course, the ceaseless mockery of his fanboiism. Even I know this forum isn't a safe space for fanbois, and I ham up my viking fandom relentlessly.
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
I was randomly thinking about frenchfighter yesterday, and other former posters.
IainF72 was another that came to mind, as well. I was wondering what he'd make of the current generation
0 -
wrong thread
0 -
IainF72 still exists in another place. He's a recent convert to Remco. Still dislikes Alaphilippe. Is slowly warming to Cav.
Warning No formatter is installed for the format1 -
Pog admitting he wasn't thinking when he attacked yesterday...
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Where is he?
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Twitter
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Everyone has attacked
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm1 -
The Nazi dating app ... People need to get off that
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Made me chuckle this. I'm in work today so unable to watch, but it sounds about right given what's coming the next 3 days
0 -
WvA is a bit shy ...may not be up for it is the main news
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Bunch let's stuyven drift off ...waiting for a hill as trying to break the elastic while everyone is moving at 60kmh is stupid
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Kung trying the bridge
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Healey leaking glycogen all over the place again
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm1 -
Kicking off again on a rise
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
It's been winding me up this Tour, wish he'd keep his powder a little dryer. He's trying it on every potential break day, with multiple attempts
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Big break to get properly away at 152km to go.
0 -
Even this last big break isn’t satisfactory. All back together.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Everybody who isn’t in the GC is either off the front or out the back.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Thomas will be happy at it coming back together.
(For those without Eurosport, he revealed before the stage he'd been ordered to mark breaks, so he was going to follow one and hope it's one that doesn't stick. Sounded quite chipper despite the dark humour though)
0 -
He’s going to be unhappy. Looks as if we have the BOTD.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.1 -
Can't be the BotD yet, there's no Uno-X in it
Healy's there though
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Active resetting again of the race
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Kwiatkowski is a beautiful descender
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0
