Tour de France: 2018 with Alpe d’ Huez, cobblestone pavement and yellow chance for coats

The Tour de France returns to the mythical Alpe d’ Huez and the cobblestone pavement of Roubaix.This was announced by the organizers on Tuesday at the race presentation of the 105.France tour known.Defending champions Christopher Froome are looking forward to a historic fifth triumph of some 3,300 kilometres and Marcel Kittel has a chance of yellow at the opening match in the Vendee.

One year after the roaring prelude in Düsseldorf, the tour remains on French soil except for a short detour to Spain.Froome and Co. compete for overall victory.in six high mountain stages.

Highlights are the 21 turns up to Alpe d’ Huez, which, after a two-year break and a total of 30 minutes’ rest, will be the highlight of the day.The only 65 km long stage in the Pyrenees is also part of the programme.In addition, the Glieres plateau is being climbed for the first time, an alpine ascent whose last two kilometres are pure gravel roads.

The decision to win the Tour will probably be made on the penultimate day with an individual time trial in the French Basque Country.For the first time since 2015, a team time trial will also be held again (3rd.stage).

Both time trials are expected to meet the British sky captain Froome, who would catch up to record holders Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault with another Tour victory.

For Kittel (Arnstadt), the outstanding sprinter with five stage victories in 2017, there are a good half dozen chances of victory.Already the first stage in the west of France could end with a sprint arrival and therefore with the yellow jersey for gown.

His future Katjuscha team mate Tony Martin (Cottbus) is likely to be in the ninth stage after Roubaix with more than 21 km of cobblestone pavement.Martin won the stage in 2015 on the last trip to the Paris-Roubaix pavees.

1.Stage (Saturday, 7.July): Noirmoutier-en-l’ Ile – Fontenay-le-Comte (195 km)

2.Stage 1 (Sunday, 8.July): Mouilleron-Saint-Germain – La Roche-sur-Yon (185 km)

3.Stage (Monday, 9.July): Cholet – Cholet (35 km/team time trial)

4.Stage (Tuesday, 10.July): La Baule – Sarzeau (192 km)

5.Stage 1 (Wednesday, 11.July): Lorient – Quimper (203 km)

6.Stage (Thursday, 12.July): Brest – Mur de Bretagne (181 km)

7.Stage (Friday, 13.July): Fougeres – Chartres (231 km)

8.Stage (Saturday, 14.July): Dreux – Amiens (181 km)

9.Stage 1 (Sunday, 15.July: Arras – Roubaix (154 km)

Closing day in Annecy (Monday, 16.July)

10.Stage 1 (Tuesday, 17.July): Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand (159 km)

11.Stage (Wednesday, 18.July): Albertville – La Rosiere (103 km)

12.Stage (Thursday, 19.July): Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Alpe d’ Huez (175 km)

13.Stage (Friday, 20.July): Bourg-d’ Oisans – Valence (169 km)

14.Stage 1 (Saturday, 21.July): Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux – Mende (187 km)

15.Stage 1 (Sunday, 22.July): Millau – Carcassonne (181 km)

Closing day in Carcassonne (Monday, 23.July)

16.Stage (Tuesday, 24.July): Carcassonne – Bagneres-de-Luchon (218 km)

17.Stage 1 (Wednesday, 25.July): Bagneres-de-Luchon – Saint-Lary-Soulan/Col de Portet (65 km)

18.Stage (Thursday, 26.July): Trie-sur-Baise – Pau (172 km)

19.Stage (Friday, 27.July): Lourdes – Laruns (200 km)

20.Stage (Saturday, 28.July): Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle – Espelette (31 km/individual time trial)

21.Stage 1 (Sunday, 29.July): Houilles – Paris Champs-Elysees (115 km)

Total length: 3329 km