The high mountains are calling and the Tour de France riders are ready for a day of brutal brutality on Stage 18, as they take on the infamous Orcières-Merlette summit finish – with its five categorised climbs and 185km route from Voiron. It's not a Hors Catégorie climb, but trust us, this one will chew up even the toughest riders like a vicious dog. The road upwards starts just 20km in, promising early splits and an opportunity for pure climbers to make their move.
The likes of Richard Carapaz and Valentin Paret-Peintre are licking their lips at the prospect of this stage – not just for the prestige of a win but also to rack up valuable points in the mountains classification. With 29 polka-dot points on offer, these riders will be eyeing Tadej Pogacar's lead in the King of the Mountains standings and thinking: 'Why not me?' It's not like they're getting any younger, after all.
But before we get to tomorrow's monumental mountain stage finish at l’Alpe d'Huez (Gap to), the peloton must endure today's gruelling test. And what a contrast it will be from the explosive short-and-sharp battle that awaits them on Friday. The 127.9km route may be relatively short, but the initial 25km of climbing is enough to create chaos and allow a strong escape group to form. Then comes the Col d’Ornon, where Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will unleash their teams in a battle for overall supremacy.
Should the main favourites let their guard down even slightly, it'll be game on for the pure climbers – like Thymen Arensman of Netcompany, who's been here before (he won twice last year). He stands out as a strong contender for this highly coveted victory, and it promises to be a nail-biting battle between stage-hunting specialists and those fighting for overall glory.
And then there's the off-stage drama, which only adds fuel to the fire. Paul Seixas' bid to snatch third place on the podium from Isaac del Toro is gaining momentum – with allegations of preferential treatment hanging over his head like a dark cloud. This has all added an extra layer of intrigue to the final mountain stages, and we can't wait to see how it unfolds.