With 5,600 meters of unevenness and final at 2,300 meters, it is one of the most demanding stages of the Tour. Pogacar arrives with more than four minutes on Vingegaard, which is played all today. Lipowitz, Onley and Roglič fight for the podium.
Foto: Efe – Christophe Petit Tesson
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Stage 18 is not just the toughest of the Tour 2025: it is a real alpine monster. With 5,600 meters of accumulated and final slope at 2,300 meters altitude, we are facing the Queen stage Without discussion. A day where the favorites to the title will not be able to hide and where the physical limits will be exposed in each pedal.
The first 40 kilometers serve as intense prologue. There are no flat sections: the terrain always peeles and will be a battlefield to form the getaway of the day. The teams that still dream of prominence will try here, but the rhythm will be fierce.
Primer Gigante: Col you Glandon
With the squad already worn, the first serious blow arrives: the Col you glandon. An out of category with almost 22 kilometers of ascent where irregularity reigns. The first five thousand meters punish with slopes of 9% on average and ramps that reach the two digits. Then, a half -upd respite before suffering again with 11%sections. The last kilometers allow pedaling with some more rhythm, but the damage will already be done.
Second torture: Madeleine
No respite, it is directly spliced with another colossus: the Madeleine Col. Also out of category, long, but with a different personality. There are no ups and downs here: there are 19 kilometers constant to 8%. The difficulty is psychological and physical at the same time. There are no breaks, there are no escape areas. Only brute force, perseverance and ability to withstand a full hour of altitude effort. Closed curves either help.
The descent after the Madeleine is fast, technical and tense. 25 kilometers where everything can be lost if you risk more, followed by 15 kilometers of transition that they barely reach to take a breath.
Although this year is uploaded by a “less cruel” variant than in previous editions, it remains hell. There are 26 kilometers to 7% on average, without really plain sections. And when it seems to stabilize, the final blows arrive: a kilometer to 10% to 5 from the end, and the last rise to 11%, already at 2,300 meters of altitude. The accumulated fatigue will be brutal and the altitude will do its part.
The race can be seen, From 6:30 am, in Caracol HD2 and the free DITU application. At 8:30 am it starts on Caracol Televisión.
THE PANORAMA OF THE GENERAL
Tadej Pugačar arrives as a solid leader, with more than four minutes of advantage over Jonas Vingegaard. The Slovenian has demonstrated solidity and courage, but this stage is treacherous. Vingegaard, although at a disadvantage, is the only one who could put it in trouble.
Further back, Florian Lipowitz defends the podium with more than nine minutes late, but cannot be trusted: Oscar Onley is on the stalking, tied in time. Primož Roglič, fifth, seems far from the podium, but with such a stage, everything can happen.
As for Colombians, Sergio Higuita is the best classified (19th), with a consistent performance. Tejada, Buitrago and Rubio remain in the race, each with different objectives, but all seeking to leave a mark on the toughest day of the tour.
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