The days are winding down at the Tour de France 2024, and we're a couple of summit finishes and a time trial away from seeing if Tadej Pogacar can become the first rider since 1998 to win the Giro d'Italia and TDF in the same year.

Before the final countdown, however, is a hilly 179.5-kilometer ride from Gap to Barcelonnette that could see some exciting attacks and possibly a breakaway victory. Maybe even a sprinter with good climbing skills can sneak by for the win.

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A stage win at the Tour de France is a career achievement for many riders, so expect those left in the 2024 race to fight for every opportunity, just as Richard Carapaz did in Stage 17 for his first career win at the TDF. 

He now has won stages at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.

In the General Classification, or the battle for the yellow jersey, Pogacar very much is in control. His third TDF win (he also won in 2020 and 2021) and the coveted Giro-TDF double are within reach.

Pogacar will enter Stage 18 with a lead of 3 minutes, 11 seconds over two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, while first-timer Remco Evenepoel is 5 minutes, 9 seconds off the lead. Third and fourth place are separated by nearly eight minutes.

FloBikes coverage of Stage 18 will begin Thursday at 6:50 a.m. Eastern and is expected to conclude around 12:10 p.m. EDT.

Here’s what to know about Stage 18 of the Tour de France:

How To Watch The Tour de France 2024 Stage 18

In Canada, the Tour de France is streaming live on FloBikes and the FloSports app.

In the United States, the NBC family of networks and the streaming service Peacock are broadcasting the race. 

FloBikes and the FloSports app are home to race highlights, stage breakdowns and more breaking news. 

Stage 18 Tour de France 2024

Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2024 will be a hilly journey from Gap to Barcelonnette that includes and intermediate sprint, five Category 3 climbs and an elevation gain of about 3,000 meters.

In all, it's 179.5 kilometers through the scenic hills of the famous Alps, where ambitious riders will have a chance to attack or break away to see if they can find TDF glory as the 2024 race winds down. 

Though there are a few spots with gradients in the 4-6% range, the stage isn't super challenging, which means it likely was an intentional addition to the race to allow for one of many different scenarios to unfold, and it doesn't necessarily favor any one skillset. Team strategy also could play a significant role.

Weather also could begin to be a factor, as temperatures along the course are heating up, too.

Like a number of cities on the Tour de France 2024 journey, Gap is a familiar race destination, while Barcelonnette is part of the event for the first time.

Bonus seconds again will be offered to the first three riders across the line Thursday - 10, 6 and 4 seconds, respectively.

179.5 Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 18 Of The Tour de France 2024?

Stage 18 of the Tour de France is 179.5 kilometers, or 111.5 miles long. 

Tour de France 2024 Stage 18 Profile 

Here is what the elevation looks like for Stage 18: 

Who Won Stage 18 Of The Tour de France in 2023?

Denmark's Kasper Asgreen won Stage 18 of the 2023 Tour de France. 

Asgreen was able to break away for the win in Stage 18 last year, the first victory of his Tour de France career. The breakaway was able to hold off the approaching peloton, leaving about 10 meters to spare.

The ride was 185 kilometers of relatively flat terrain from Moutiers to Bourg-en-Bresse and ended with a competitive and exciting sprint.

Asgreen nearly won Stage 19, too, finishing just behind Matej Mohoric in a photo finish. 

TDF Results: Here's Who Has Won Each Stage So Far In 2024

• TDF Stage 1 Results
• TDF Stage 2 Results
• TDF Stage 3 Results
• TDF Stage 4 Results
• TDF Stage 5 Results
• TDF Stage 6 Results
• TDF Stage 7 Results
• TDF Stage 8 Results
• TDF Stage 9 Results
• TDF Stage 10 Results
• TDF Stage 11 Results
• TDF Stage 12 Results
• TDF Stage 13 Results
• TDF Stage 14 Results
• TDF Stage 15 Results
• TDF Stage 16 Results
• TDF Stage 17 Results

Tour de France 2024 Route Map

Here is the map for this year's Tour de France:

Here are a few more things to know about the Tour de France:

How To Watch Tour de France 2024 In The United States 

A live broadcast of the 2024 Tour de France will be available on Peacock for those watching from the United States. 

Peacock is the exclusive home of the event in the United States through 2029, with start-to-finish coverage of every stage, though select stages also will air on NBC.

How To Watch Tour de France 2024 In Canada 

FloBikes will provide a live broadcast for Canadian audiences.

Viewers in Canada will be able to watch all 21 stages of the Tour de France 2024 live on FloBikes and the FloSports app.

FloBikes also will provide updates, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the entire event for all Flo subscribers. 

On What Channel Is The Tour de France 2024? 

The Tour de France will be on the NBC network and will stream daily in the United States on Peacock. The entire race will be broadcast on NBC's channels and USA Network. 

Tour de France Teams For 2024

There will be 22 teams and up to 176 competitors in this year’s Tour de France:

Teams

• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
• Alpecin - Deceuninck
• Arkéa - B&B Hotels
• Astana Qazaqstan Team
• Bahrain - Victorious
• BORA - hansgrohe
• Cofidis
• EF Education - EasyPost
• Groupama - FDJ
• INEOS Grenadiers
• Intermarché - Wanty
• Team Visma | Lease a Bike
• Lidl - Trek
• Movistar Team
• Soudal Quick-Step
• Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
• Team Jayco AlUla
• UAE Team Emirates
• Israel - Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• Uno-X Mobility
• TotalEnergies

When Does The Tour de France 2024 Start?

The Tour de France is a 21-stage event.

The 2024 edition will begin in Florence, Italy, on June 29 and conclude in Nice, France, on July 21. 

Every day, the cyclists start together to complete the stage of a race. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand. 

What Is The Schedule For The Tour de France 2024?

Here is the complete schedule for the 2024 Tour de France.

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