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The peloton sees the road find a flat profile in the heart of three Pyrenean stages. Follow the commented live race
The Tour takes a deep breath in the Pyrenean foothills on Thursday, on the occasion of the 18th stage between Trie-sur-Baïse and Pau. With the green jersey Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) starting well after his fall the day before and the Briton Geraint Thomas (Sky) more than ever in yellow, a field of 146 riders started at 13:55.
Portet's very tough day saw Wednesday's Geraint Thomas comfort his yellow jersey while his teammate and compatriot, quadruple winner of the Tour, Chris Froome was put in trouble. Thursday, the men of the plain will find less hostile terrain through the vineyards of Madiran (Km 56).
The course of 171 kilometers has some asperities: two coast of fourth category, the first in Madiran, the second to the entrance of the last 20 kilometers. But the sprinters who are still on the Tour are entitled to fight for victory.
The finish is judged in Pau, downtown (Place de Verdun), at the end of a straight line of 550 meters.
Traditional halt of the Great Loop, to be located at a strategic place at the foot of the Pyrenees and to have the necessary hotel infrastructures, Pau welcomes the race for the 70th time. Only Bordeaux (80 times) received the Tour more often, outside of Paris, which has always been the finish city.
Pierrick Fédrigo (2010, 2012) and Marcel Kittel (2017) are the last winners in the city of the good king Henri IV, today strong of 77.000 inhabitants. It is necessary to go back to 1984 to remember a Belgian victory in Pau with Eric Vanderaerden.
The departure of Trie-on-Baïse, for the first time, was thus given at 13:55 (real departure with 14:00), l arrival is expected around 17:48 (forecast 45 km / h average) Pau in the Pyrenees Atlantiques.
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