After five hard-fought stages in the Jura and Alps, the 2023 Tour de France regains its calm with the return of flat terrain for the first of two transitional stages, which are designed for sprinters to seek victory. For the Belgian Jasper Philipsen to further expand his track record in this edition, for example.
The 184.9 kilometers between Moutiers and Bourg-en-Bresse, totally flat, take the race out of the Alpine massif and head north, where the last important day of the race will take place on Saturday, in the Vosges.
Stage 18 arrives with the 2023 Tour de France sentenced. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) finished off Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) on the Col de la Loze. And the Spanish Carlos Rodríguez said goodbye to the podium, although he will have one last chance on Saturday to fight it.
The defending champion endorsed Pogacar 5.45 minutes and distances him in the general classification at 7.35, although he retains the second position. “I’m dead,” the Slovenian acknowledged to his team. He reached the finish line “disappointed, completely empty.”
Even so, the yellow jersey of the 2023 Tour de France does not trust: “Pogacar never gives up, he is going to try something, I am convinced. I have to be prepared. There are still very dangerous stages ahead.”
On stage 18 of the 2023 Tour de France, cyclists will cover 184.9 kilometers between Moutiers and Bourg-en-Bresse, a course designed for sprinters to seek victory. The event, which will start this Thursday, July 20 at 1:05 p.m., can be seen on television on RTVE and Eurosport and can also be followed on the La Vanguardia website.
