Tour de France stage 18 begins at 11:35 BST on Thursday 23 July, with the riders covering 185.2km from Voiron to the summit finish at Orcières-Merlette.
Live UK coverage begins on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max at 11:15 BST, 20 minutes before the neutralised start. The stage is expected to finish between 16:12 and 16:40 BST, depending on the speed of the race.
This is the first of three consecutive Alpine summit finishes. The route contains approximately 3,900 metres of climbing, five categorised ascents and a final 7.1km climb averaging 6.7%.
For the route, favourites and likely podium battle, see our Tour de France 2026 stage 18 preview.
Tour de France stage 18 start and finish times
| Detail | UK time |
|---|---|
| TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max coverage begins | 11:15 BST |
| Neutralised start in Voiron | 11:35 BST |
| Racing begins | Approximately 11:50 BST |
| Côte d’Engins summit | 12:49-12:55 BST |
| Côte de Monteynard summit | 14:05-14:20 BST |
| Côte des Terrasses summit | 14:34-14:52 BST |
| Intermediate sprint in Corps | 14:54-15:13 BST |
| Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes summit | 15:41-16:06 BST |
| Orcières-Merlette climb begins | Approximately 15:56-16:22 BST |
| Expected finish | 16:12-16:40 BST |
| Free highlights on 5 | 19:00 BST |
The fastest official schedule is based on an average speed of 42km/h and places the finish at 16:12 BST. The middle estimate of 40km/h gives an arrival at 16:25, while the slower 38km/h schedule moves the finish to approximately 16:40.
The full daily schedule for the race is available in the Tour de France 2026 TV schedule and start times guide.
What time does Tour de France stage 18 start?
The neutralised start is scheduled for 12:35 local time, which is 11:35 BST in the UK.
The riders will complete a short neutralised section around Voiron before the official racing begins at approximately 12:50 CEST, or 11:50 BST.
Unlike a flat stage where viewers can safely join later, the opening hour matters. Teams looking for the breakaway have only around 25km before the road begins climbing towards the Côte d’Engins.
That first ascent measures 11.5km at 5.4% and reaches its summit after 36.7km. It is long enough for the initial breakaway to form on the climb rather than before it, particularly if the leading mountain stage hunters miss the first attacks.
Viewers interested in the breakaway or mountains classification should therefore watch from the beginning.
What time is stage 18 on television in the UK?
Live coverage begins at 11:15 BST on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
The scheduled UK broadcast runs until 17:00 BST, allowing enough time for the summit finish, podium ceremonies and post-stage analysis.
TNT Sports and HBO Max are showing every stage of the 2026 Tour live. TNT Sports is available through selected packages from Sky, Virgin Media and EE, while HBO Max is the main streaming option.
The wider subscription and channel details are covered in our guide to how to watch the Tour de France 2026 in the UK.
Viewers outside the UK can check the Tour de France 2026 live stream guide by country for the relevant broadcaster and streaming platform.
Photo Credit: GettyIs stage 18 on free-to-air television?
Stage 18 is not being shown live with English-language commentary on free-to-air television in the UK.
A free highlights programme will be shown on 5 at 19:00 BST.
The programme should include the breakaway battle, the fight for mountains points and the decisive attacks on Orcières-Merlette. Daily highlights remain the main free UK option for following the Tour.
Viewers wanting to watch the entire stage live need access to TNT Sports or HBO Max.
The reasons behind the loss of live ITV coverage are explained in why you cannot watch the Tour de France 2026 free on ITV.
Best time to tune in for stage 18
The ideal joining time depends on whether the priority is the breakaway, the mountains jersey or the general classification fight.
Watch from 11:15 BST for the full stage
Coverage begins 20 minutes before the riders leave Voiron.
The opening kilometres should feature repeated attacks as climbers, stage hunters and polka-dot contenders try to enter the breakaway.
Richard Carapaz and Valentin Paret-Peintre have an obvious reason to attack because a maximum of 29 mountains points is available during the stage. Jai Hindley, Egan Bernal, Ben Healy and other riders without a protected GC position may also target the move.
The Côte d’Engins arrives early enough to turn the fight for the breakaway into a climbing contest. A small group formed before the ascent may be caught and replaced by a stronger selection.
Stage 18 was already identified as an important opportunity in our guide to the best Tour de France 2026 route days for breakaways.
Watch from 12:35 BST for the Côte d’Engins
The summit of the first Category 1 climb is expected between 12:49 and 12:55 BST.
This should be the point where the final composition of the breakaway becomes clearer.
The Côte d’Engins offers 10 mountains points to the first rider across the summit. Paret-Peintre begins the stage 24 points behind Pogačar, with Carapaz another six points behind. Both can significantly reduce the gap before the race reaches its second half.
The peloton may also split if the climb is raced particularly hard. GC teams are unlikely to attack Pogačar this early, but weaker domestiques could already be removed from the front group.
The remaining contenders and scoring opportunities are examined in the Tour de France 2026 climbers and polka-dot jersey guide.
Watch from 14:00 BST for the middle climbing sequence
The Côte de Monteynard summit is expected between 14:05 and 14:20 BST, followed by the Côte des Terrasses between 14:34 and 14:52 BST.
This section should begin reducing the breakaway.
The Côte de Monteynard is 9.7km at 5%, while the Côte des Terrasses is shorter at 3.4km but steeper at 6.6%. Neither climb is severe enough to force the GC favourites into an all-out battle, but both can expose riders who spent too much energy making the escape.
Breakaway teams may begin attacking one another here rather than waiting for Orcières-Merlette. Riders such as Healy or Carapaz will not want to tow faster finishers all the way to the summit.
The broader challenge of the final mountain block is explained in the Tour de France 2026 Alps guide.
Photo Credit: GettyWatch from 14:45 BST for the green jersey sprint
The intermediate sprint in Corps is expected between 14:54 and 15:13 BST.
Only seven points separate Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen after stage 17, making this one of the most important intermediate sprints of the final week.
The sprint comes after three categorised climbs and 129km of racing. That position should favour Pedersen, who is more comfortable on difficult terrain, but only if he remains close enough to the front to contest it.
A breakaway may absorb most of the 25 points. That could suit Pedersen if Philipsen is also prevented from scoring.
The complete classification picture is covered in GC and jerseys after Tour de France 2026 stage 17.
Pedersen’s route towards the jersey is examined in more detail in can Mads Pedersen win green at the Tour de France 2026?.
Watch from 15:30 BST for the decisive final 35km
Viewers mainly interested in the GC race should aim to tune in by 15:30 BST.
The riders should be approaching the Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, a 2.5km climb averaging 6.9% with only 19km remaining.
This may be the first point where Decathlon CMA CGM or Lidl-Trek attempt to make the race harder.
Paul Seixas begins the stage only 20 seconds behind Isaac del Toro in the battle for third place and the white jersey. Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose also give Lidl-Trek two cards to play further back.
An attack on Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes could remove UAE domestiques and prevent the final ascent from becoming a simple controlled procession.
Watch from 15:55 BST for Orcières-Merlette
The final climb should begin between approximately 15:56 and 16:22 BST.
Orcières-Merlette measures 7.1km at 6.7%. The first riders are expected to reach the summit between 16:12 and 16:40 BST.
Anyone interested only in the stage winner and podium battle should be watching by 15:55.
The gradients are steady rather than extreme, so the leading GC group may remain relatively large until the final three kilometres. A high pace can still create major differences because the riders arrive after almost 4,000 metres of climbing.
Pogačar does not need to attack, but the finish suits his acceleration if the stage victory remains available. Seixas has the clearest reason to take risks, while Evenepoel will want to protect second place before the harder Alpe d’Huez stages.
Orcières-Merlette’s place within the race is covered in the Tour de France 2026 summit finishes guide.
Stage 18 key race times in the UK
| Race location | Distance into stage | Expected UK time |
|---|---|---|
| Voiron neutralised start | 0km | 11:35 BST |
| Racing begins | 0km | Approximately 11:50 BST |
| Côte d’Engins | 36.7km | 12:49-12:55 BST |
| Côte de Monteynard | 92.2km | 14:05-14:20 BST |
| Côte des Terrasses | 112.8km | 14:34-14:52 BST |
| Corps intermediate sprint | 129.1km | 14:54-15:13 BST |
| Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes | 166.2km | 15:41-16:06 BST |
| Start of Orcières-Merlette | 178.1km | 15:56-16:22 BST |
| Three kilometres remaining | 182.2km | Approximately 16:05-16:33 BST |
| Orcières-Merlette finish | 185.2km | 16:12-16:40 BST |
All timings remain estimates.
A prolonged battle for the breakaway could place the race close to the fastest schedule. A large escape forming quickly and a controlled peloton behind may shift the stage towards the slower estimate.
Viewers planning to watch only the finale should use 15:55 BST as the safest joining time.
What time is stage 18 in the United States?
The neutralised start is at 06:35 ET and 03:35 PT.
Racing should begin at approximately 06:50 ET and 03:50 PT. The finish is expected between 11:12 and 11:40 ET, or 08:12 and 08:40 PT.
Peacock is the main live streaming option in the United States.
| Viewing point | Eastern time | Pacific time |
|---|---|---|
| Neutralised start | 06:35 | 03:35 |
| Côte d’Engins | 07:49-07:55 | 04:49-04:55 |
| Côte de Monteynard | 09:05-09:20 | 06:05-06:20 |
| Intermediate sprint | 09:54-10:13 | 06:54-07:13 |
| Final climb begins | 10:56-11:22 | 07:56-08:22 |
| Expected finish | 11:12-11:40 | 08:12-08:40 |
How to watch stage 18 in Canada
Canadian viewers can watch through FloBikes and the FloSports platform.
For viewers in Ontario and Quebec, the neutralised start is at 06:35 ET, with the summit finish expected between 11:12 and 11:40 ET.
Viewers interested primarily in the final climb should aim to tune in by approximately 10:55 ET.
How to watch stage 18 in Australia
Stage 18 is available live and free through SBS and SBS On Demand.
The SBS On Demand stream begins at 20:25 AEST on Thursday, with television coverage on SBS beginning at 21:20 AEST. The stage is scheduled to run until approximately 02:00 AEST on Friday morning.
The neutralised start is at 20:35 AEST. The finish should take place between 01:12 and 01:40 AEST.
Australian viewers interested only in the GC battle should aim to join by approximately 00:55 AEST.
How to watch stage 18 in Europe
The neutralised start is at 12:35 CEST, with the finish expected between 17:12 and 17:40 CEST.
France Télévisions provides free domestic coverage in France. Belgian viewers can follow through RTBF and VRT/Sporza, while NOS carries coverage in the Netherlands.
Eurosport and HBO Max are available across several European markets, although exact rights and subscription arrangements vary by country.
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Photo Credit: A.S.O./Charly López -
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Charly López
What to expect from stage 18
Stage 18 should produce two connected races.
The first is the battle for the breakaway and mountains points. Paret-Peintre and Carapaz can both move closer to Pogačar in the polka-dot classification, while riders such as Hindley, Bernal and Healy will target the stage victory.
The second is the GC battle behind.
Pogačar leads Evenepoel by 4:32 and does not need to take risks. Del Toro and Seixas are separated by only 20 seconds, while Ayuso and Skjelmose give Lidl-Trek two riders capable of attacking.
The final climb may not produce huge differences among the strongest riders. Its position after 185km and 3,900 metres of climbing means anyone having a weak day can still lose substantial time.
The stage also provides an early indication of how much support remains around the leaders before the back-to-back Alpe d’Huez finishes.
The final weekend is explored in the Tour de France 2026 queen stage guide and our analysis of why back-to-back Alpe d’Huez finishes could define the Tour.
Tour de France stage 18 viewing summary
Stage 18 is live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max from 11:15 BST.
The neutralised start in Voiron is at 11:35 BST, with racing expected to begin at approximately 11:50.
The first Category 1 climb should be reached shortly before 13:00 BST. The intermediate sprint in Corps is expected between 14:54 and 15:13, while the final approach should begin becoming decisive around 15:40.
The climb to Orcières-Merlette is expected to start between 15:56 and 16:22 BST. The stage should finish between 16:12 and 16:40 BST.
Free-to-air highlights will be shown on 5 at 19:00 BST.
For viewers interested mainly in the stage winner and GC battle, 15:55 BST is the safest time to tune in.
