Tour de France 2026 stage 18 preview, profiles, favourites and predictions - Will Seixas and Del Toro test Evenepoel? Breakaway win or Pogacar dominance?

Key Points:

• The 2026 Tour de France will feature a mix of terrains including a team time trial (Stage 1), an individual time trial (Stage 16), multiple mountain stages in the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, and Alps, and several sprint-friendly stages, with the Grand Depart in Barcelona.
• Key mountain stages include summit finishes at Gavarnie-Gèdre (Stage 6), Le Lioran (Stage 10), Le Markstein (Stage 14), Plateau de Solaison (Stage 15), Orcieres-Merlette (Stage 18), and two consecutive finishes at Alpe d'Huez (Stages 19 and 20), with the queen stage (Stage 20) featuring major climbs including the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, and Col de la Sarenne.
• Tadej Pogacar is a favorite for multiple stage wins and potentially equaling the record for five Tour de France overall victories, with strong competition expected from Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and other climbers and breakaway specialists.
• Several stages are predicted to favor breakaways (Stages 9, 13, 17, 18), while sprint stages (Stages 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, 21) will see competition among top sprinters like Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, and Olav Kooij.
• The Tour's final week is expected to be decisive with challenging mountain stages and time trials shaping the general classification, while tactical team efforts, especially from UAE Team Emirates supporting Pogacar, will play a critical role in stage outcomes and the overall race.