2018 Tour de France#Points classification

{{main|List of teams and cyclists in the 2018 Tour de France}}

File:Place Napoléon de La Roche-sur-Yon depuis l'église (cropped).jpg, hosted the team presentation ceremony on 5 July.]]

The 2018 edition of the Tour de France consisted of 22 teams.{{cite web|title=List of starters – Tour de France 2018|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/riders|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711060556/https://www.letour.fr/en/riders|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = dead}} The race was the 25th of the 37 events in the UCI World Tour,{{cite web|title=2018 UCI WorldTour|url=http://www.uci.org/road/events/uci-worldtour|access-date=16 January 2019|work=Union Cycliste Internationale|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831211752/http://www.uci.org/road/events/uci-worldtour|archive-date=31 August 2018|url-status = dead}} and all of its eighteen UCI WorldTeams were entitled, and obliged, to enter the race.{{sfn|UCI cycling regulations|2018|p=140}} On 6 January 2018, organisers of the Tour, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), announced the four second-tier UCI Professional Continental teams that received a wildcard invitation to participate in the event. The four teams were {{UCI team code|COF|2018}}, {{UCI team code|DEN|2018}}, {{UCI team code|TFO|2018}}, from France, and Belgium's {{UCI team code|WGG|2018}}, all of which have participated in the race before.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/direct-energie-cofidis-fortuneo-and-wanty-secure-2018-tour-de-france-wild-cards/|title=Direct Energie, Cofidis, Fortuneo and Wanty receive 2018 Tour de France wild cards|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=6 January 2018|access-date=6 January 2018}} This meant that new French team {{UCI team code|VCC|2018}}, with their team leader, sprinter Bryan Coquard, missed out on the race.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/prudhomme-explains-tour-de-france-wild-card-decision/|title=Tour de France wildcard decision explained by Christian Prudhomme|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=6 January 2018|access-date=6 January 2018}} The presentation of the teams – where the members of each team's roster are introduced in front of the media and local dignitaries – took place on {{Interlanguage link|Place Napoleon|fr|Place Napoléon (La Roche-sur-Yon)}} in the town of La Roche-sur-Yon on 5 July, two days before the opening stage.{{cite news|title=Tour de France team presentation – Gallery|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-team-presentation-gallery/|access-date=10 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=5 July 2018}}

New rules by the cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), reduced the number of riders per team for Grand Tours from 9 to 8, resulting in a start list total of 176,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/grand-tour-teams-reduced-nine-eight-riders-2018-336785|title=Grand Tour teams to be reduced from nine to eight riders from 2018|work=Cycling Weekly|date=22 June 2017|access-date=18 October 2017}} instead of 198, which had been the number of starters since 2010.{{sfn|Augendre|2018|p=112}} Of these, 35 competed in their first Tour de France.{{cite web|title=Tour de France 2018 – Debutants|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/debutants|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711060940/https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/debutants|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = live}} The riders came from 30 countries. Seven countries had more than 10 riders in the race: France (35), Belgium (19), the Netherlands (13), Italy (13), Australia (11), Germany (11) and Spain (11). The average age of riders in the race was 29.37 years,{{cite web|title=Tour de France 2018 – Peloton averages|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/general-peloton-averages|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711063623/https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/general-peloton-averages|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = live}} ranging from the 21-year-old Egan Bernal ({{UCI team code|SKY|2018}}) to the 40-year-old Franco Pellizotti ({{UCI team code|TBM|2018}}).{{cite web|title=Tour de France 2018 – Youngest competitors|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/youngest-competitors|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711070035/https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/youngest-competitors|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = live}}{{cite web|title=Tour de France 2018 – Oldest competitors|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/oldest-competitors|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711063431/https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/oldest-competitors|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = live}} {{UCI team code|FDJ|2018b}} had the youngest average age while {{UCI team code|TBM|2018|nolink=yes}} had the oldest.{{cite web|title=Tour de France 2018 – Average team age|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/average-team-age|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711055930/https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/startlist/average-team-age|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status = live}}

The teams entering the race were:

UCI WorldTeams

{{div col|colwidth=20em|style=margin-right:20%;}}

• {{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|AST|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|TBM|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|BMC|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|BOH|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|EFD|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|DDD|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|FDJ|2018b}}
• {{UCI team code|KAT|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|TLJ|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|LTS|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|MOV|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|ORS|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|QST|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|SKY|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|SUN|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|TFS|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|UAD|2018}}

{{div col end}}

UCI Professional Continental teams

{{div col|colwidth=20em|style=margin-right:20%;}}

• {{UCI team code|COF|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|DEN|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|TFO|2018}}
• {{UCI team code|WGG|2018}}

{{div col end}}

File:2018 Tour of Britain stage 3 172 Chris Froome after the race.JPG (pictured at the 2018 Tour of Britain) had been considered the favourite for the general classification.]]

In the lead up to the Tour, the favourite for the general classification was Chris Froome of {{UCI team code|SKY|2018|nolink=yes}}.{{cite news|last=Robertshaw|first=Henry|title=Tour de France 2018: Who are the bookmakers backing for victory?|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/bookmakers-backing-tour-de-france-265645|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Cycling Weekly|date=21 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2018/07/07/tour-de-france-2018-years-favourites-can-anybody-challenge-chris/|title=Tour de France 2018: Who are this year's favourites and can anybody challenge Chris Froome?|first=John|last=MacLeary|date=7 July 2018|access-date=8 July 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cite news |last1=Ostlere |first1=Lawrence |title=Tour de France 2018 contenders: Chris Froome starts as favourite against challenge of Richie Porte, Nairo Quintana and more |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/chris-froome-tour-de-france-2018-contenders-favourites-richie-porte-nairo-quintana-adam-yates-a8435596.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/chris-froome-tour-de-france-2018-contenders-favourites-richie-porte-nairo-quintana-adam-yates-a8435596.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=The Independent |date=10 July 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|last=Lowe|first=Felix|title=Blazin' Saddles: Tour de France 2018 yellow jersey guide and top 10 predictions|url=https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/blazin-saddles-tour-de-france-2018-yellow-jersey-guide-and-top-10-predictions_sto6834409/story.shtml|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Eurosport|publisher=Discovery Communications|date=6 July 2018}}{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Peter|title= Tour de France 2018: All you need to know about the 105th race for the yellow jersey |url=http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/11428104/tour-de-france-2018-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-105th-race-for-the-yellow-jersey|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky plc|date=16 June 2018}} Froome had won the 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of the Tour, and was also the current defending champion at both other Grand Tours, the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia. However, Froome's participation was unconfirmed due to an ongoing anti-doping investigation that began in December 2017, when it was announced that he had returned a urine sample taken at the Vuelta (which had taken place two months earlier) which contained twice his allowed amount of the asthma drug salbutamol. This was considered not as a positive doping result, but as an "Adverse Analytical Finding" (AAF), meaning that he was allowed to continue racing until the case was resolved. He did however face the possibility of losing his Vuelta victory and all subsequent results.{{cite web|title=Chris Froome returns adverse analytical finding for Salbutamol|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-returns-adverse-analytical-finding-for-salbutamol/|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=13 December 2017|date=13 December 2017}} The ASO were unhappy with the situation, which was very similar to that of the 2011 Tour pre-race favourite Alberto Contador, who started the tour with his case over a positive test for clenbuterol still unresolved.{{cite web |last=Fotheringham |first=William |author-link=William Fotheringham |title=Similarities of Chris Froome now to Alberto Contador in 2011 are clear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/01/chris-froome-alberto-contador-tour-de-france-buildup-similarities |work=The Guardian|access-date=2 July 2018 |date=1 July 2018}} The UCI conducted an investigation into the AAF, which was still unresolved at the time that Froome won the Giro in May 2018. With an outcome before the start of the Tour unlikely, the ASO attempted to bar Froome from starting the race, citing article 28 of the race's rules, saying that the organiser "expressly reserves the right to refuse participation in – or to exclude from – the event, a team or any of its members whose presence would be such as to damage the image or reputation of ASO or the event".{{cite web |title=ASO try to block Chris Froome from racing Tour de France |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/aso-try-to-block-chris-froome-from-racing-tour-de-france/ |website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=2 July 2018 |date=1 July 2018}} Froome was cleared by the UCI on 2 July, five days before the start of the Tour, with a press statement reading that the authorities had found sufficient evidence "that Mr Froome's sample results do not constitute an AAF".{{cite web |title=UCI statement on anti-doping proceedings involving Mr Christopher Froome |url=http://www.uci.org/pressreleases/uci-statement-anti-doping-proceedings-involving-christopher-froome/ |website=UCI.org |publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale |date=2 July 2018|access-date=2 July 2018}} He was thereafter cleared to start the Tour by the ASO as well.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Barry |title=Prudhomme says attempt to bar Chris Froome from Tour de France is now 'obsolete' |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/prudhomme-says-attempt-to-bar-chris-froome-from-tour-de-france-is-now-obsolete/ |website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=2 July 2018 |date=2 July 2018}}

The closest rivals of Froome were thought to be Romain Bardet ({{UCI team code|ALM|2018|nolink=yes}}), Tom Dumoulin ({{UCI team code|SUN|2018|nolink=yes}}), Mikel Landa ({{UCI team code|MOV|2018|nolink=yes}}), Vincenzo Nibali ({{UCI team code|TBM|2018|nolink=yes}}), Richie Porte ({{UCI team code|BMC|2018|nolink=yes}}), Nairo Quintana ({{UCI team code|MOV|2018|nolink=yes}}) and Adam Yates ({{UCI team code|ORS|2018|nolink=yes}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.nl/tour-de-france-2018-favorieten/|title=Dit zijn volgens de bookmakers de 7 topfavorieten om de Tour de France te winnen|trans-title=According to the bookmakers, these are the 7 top favorites to win the Tour de France|last=Thole|first=Herwin|date=6 July 2018|website=Business Insider Nederland|language=nl|access-date=14 April 2019}}{{cite news |title=Cyclist predictions: Who we're backing at the 2018 Tour de France |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/3019/cyclist-predictions-who-were-backing-at-the-2018-tour-de-france |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=Cyclist |publisher=Dennis Publishing |date=5 July 2018}} Porte's best result in the Tour was fifth overall in 2016. He had shown his form so far in the 2018 season by winning the general classification of Tour de Suisse.{{cite news|title=BMC Racing back Richie Porte in pursuit of Tour de France podium|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-racing-back-richie-porte-in-pursuit-of-tour-de-france-podium/|access-date=1 August 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=27 June 2018}} Although Quintana had placed twelfth overall in the 2017 Tour, his 2018 season so far had been consistent and he had finished second behind Froome in previous Tours. He came to the Tour with a strong team, which included contender Landa, who in 2018 had moved to Movistar from Sky after being a domestique for Froome.{{cite news|last=Windsor|first=Richard|title=Nairo Quintana: 'We've got to take advantage of strength in numbers to win the Tour'|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/nairo-quintana-weve-got-take-advantage-strength-numbers-win-tour-384094|access-date=8 March 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=26 June 2018}} The 2017 Giro winner Dumoulin placed second in the 2018 Giro.{{cite web|last=Delves|first=Joseph|url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/4842/tom-dumoulin-to-ride-tour-de-france-after-second-place-at-the-giro-d-italia|title=Tom Dumoulin to ride Tour de France after second place at the Giro d'Italia|work=Cyclist |date=4 June 2018 |publisher=Dennis Publishing|access-date=8 July 2018}} Nibali had recently won the classic Milan–San Remo, one of cycling's five one-day race "monuments". He had however failed to impress in the stage races leading up to the Tour, finishing 24th in the Critérium du Dauphiné after finishing outside the top 10 in the general classifications at Dubai Tour, Tour of Oman and the Tirreno–Adriatico. He was the only rider on the start list apart from Froome to have won a Tour, the 2014 edition. Bardet finished second and third overall in the two previous Tours and placed third in the Critérium du Dauphiné leading up to the 2018 Tour. Yates' best overall Tour result was fourth 2016; he had shown his form during the season before the Tour with top-five placings in four stage races, including second in the Dauphiné.{{cite web|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/adam-yates/2018|title=Adam Yates – 2018|publisher=ProCyclingStats|access-date=8 March 2019}}

Some of the other riders considered as contenders for the general classification were Dan Martin ({{UCI team code|UAD|2018|nolink=yes}}), Alejandro Valverde ({{UCI team code|MOV|2018|nolink=yes}}), Rigoberto Urán ({{UCI team code|EFD|2018|nolink=yes}}), Geraint Thomas ({{UCI team code|SKY|2018|nolink=yes}}) and Primož Roglič ({{UCI team code|TLJ|2018|nolink=yes}}).{{cite news|last=Scrivener|first=Peter|title=Tour de France: Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan – all you need to know|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44701953|access-date=31 July 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 July 2018}}

File:TDF24647 sagan (29899052838) (cropped).jpg (pictured on stage seventeen) was the pre-race favourite for the points classification.]]

The sprinters considered favourites for the points classification and wins on the flat or hilly bunch sprint finishes were Peter Sagan ({{UCI team code|BOH|2018|nolink=yes}}), Michael Matthews ({{UCI team code|SUN|2018|nolink=yes}}), Fernando Gaviria ({{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}}), Marcel Kittel ({{UCI team code|KAT|2018|nolink=yes}}), Mark Cavendish ({{UCI team code|DDD|2018|nolink=yes}}), Dylan Groenewegen ({{UCI team code|TLJ|2018|nolink=yes}}), Arnaud Démare ({{UCI team code|GFC|2018b|nolink=yes}}) and André Greipel ({{UCI team code|LTS|2018|nolink=yes}}). Others expected to contend for sprint finishes included Greg Van Avermaet ({{UCI team code|BMC|2018|nolink=yes}}), Alexander Kristoff ({{UCI team code|UAD|2018|nolink=yes}}), Sonny Colbrelli ({{UCI team code|TBM|2018|nolink=yes}}), Nacer Bouhanni ({{UCI team code|FDJ|2018b|nolink=yes}}) and John Degenkolb ({{UCI team code|TFS|2018|nolink=yes}}).{{cite news|last=Henrys|first=Colin|title=Tour de France 2018 preview: can anybody stop Peter Sagan winning the green jersey?|url=https://roadcyclinguk.com/racing/previews/tour-de-france-2018-preview-green-jersey/|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Road Cycling UK|publisher=Mpora|date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093220/https://roadcyclinguk.com/racing/previews/tour-de-france-2018-preview-green-jersey/|archive-date=31 July 2018|url-status = dead}}{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Jane |title='It's what I want to be' – the green jersey contenders |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/article/2018/07/02/its-what-i-want-be-green-jersey-contenders |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=SBS |date=2 July 2018}}{{cite news|last=Lowe|first=Felix|title=Blazin' Saddles: Tour de France 2018 green jersey guide - Sagan, Matthews, Gaviria, Kittel...|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/blazin-saddles-tour-de-france-2018-green-jersey-guide-sagan-matthews-gaviria-kittel._sto6822586/story.shtml|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Eurosport|publisher=Discovery Communications|date=26 June 2018}}{{cite news|last=Benson|first=Daniel|title=Tour de France 2018: The essential race preview|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/preview/|access-date=31 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=27 June 2018}} Triple reigning world road race champion Sagan had won the five previous points classifications of the Tour before his 2017 Tour disqualification after race officials judged that he caused Cavendish to crash. Sagan was again aiming to equal Erik Zabel's record of six points classifications.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Gregor|title=Peter Sagan takes aim at sixth Tour de France green jersey|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/peter-sagan-takes-aim-at-sixth-tour-de-france-green-jersey-385488|access-date=8 March 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=6 July 2018}} He was in good form during the season before the Tour, winning the one-day races Paris–Roubaix and Gent–Wevelgem, multiple top ten results one-day races and two points classifications in stage races. Matthews, who won the 2017 Tour's points classification, suffered an early season injury and his sole win for the season was at the Tour de Romandie. Kittel had won fourteen Tour stages, five in 2017, gained two wins so far in 2018, both at the Tirreno–Adriatico. Debutant Gaviria had been second to Kittel at {{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}} before the latter moved to {{UCI team code|KAT|2018|nolink=yes}} for the 2018 season. Gaviria amassed a total of seven wins so far in 2018, and additionally the points classification at the Tour of California. The 2011 points classification winner Cavendish's win at the Dubai Tour in February was his only of 2018 so far. Winner of the 2017 Tour's final stage Groenewegen had a total of nine victories for the season going into the Tour, with one coming at Paris–Nice.{{cite web|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/dylan-groenewegen/2018|title=Dylan Groenewegen – 2018|publisher=ProCyclingStats|access-date=8 March 2019}} Démare, who led the points classification in the 2017 Tour, had gained two wins at Paris–Nice and the Tour de Suisse in 2018 before the Tour. Greipel, who turned 36 during the Tour, had taken six wins at stage races during 2018 before the Tour, as well as the points classification of the Tour of Belgium.

{{clear}}

File:Les dernières épingles de l'ascension du col du portet.jpg was the Col de Portet Pyrenean pass, at {{convert|2,215|m|0|abbr=on}}. It was used for the first time in the Tour de France.]]

On 12 February 2017, at a rugby union match between France and Scotland at Paris's Stade de France, race director Christian Prudhomme announced the opening stages of the 2018 Tour (known as the Grand Départ) would take place in the Vendée department, in the Pays de la Loire region. Since the inaugural Tour in 1903, the Vendée has hosted the Grand Départ five times, with the last in 2011.{{cite news|title=Tour de France announces 2018 Grand Départ|url=https://www.velonews.com/2017/02/news/tour-de-france-announces-2018-grand-depart_430521|access-date=1 August 2018|work=VeloNews|publisher=Pocket Outdoor Media|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=12 February 2017}} Two weeks after the announcement, the ASO revealed that the Grand Départ would take place over three stages, with the third a team time trial.{{cite news|title=Tour de France 2018 to start on Passage du Gois|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-2018-to-start-on-passage-du-gois/|access-date=1 August 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=28 February 2017}} In June 2017, the UCI's Professional Cycling Council (PCC) moved the start of the Tour a week later than usual and originally planned due to a clash with the 2018 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news |last=Robertshaw |first=Henry |title=2018 Tour de France rescheduled to reduce clash with FIFA World Cup |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/2018-tour-de-france-rescheduled-avoid-clash-football-world-cup-336787 |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=Cycling Weekly|date=22 June 2017}} The full route was announced on 17 October 2017; it was almost completely within France,{{cite news|last=Farrand|first=Stephen|title=Tour de France 2018 route revealed|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-2018-route-revealed/|access-date=1 August 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=17 October 2017}} with short deviations into Spain in the Pyrenees the only exceptions.{{cite web|url=http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf18-aff-carte-40x58-23mai-hd.pdf|title=Tour de France 2018 map|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118173948/http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf18-aff-carte-40x58-23mai-hd.pdf|archive-date=18 January 2019|url-status = live}} Two of the Tour's most historic climbs featured, Alpe d'Huez and the Col du Tourmalet, which last featured in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Notable was stage nine's {{convert|21.7|km|abbr=on}} of sett paving, split across fifteen sectors, a feature that was last seen in the 2015 Tour. It finished in Roubaix, home of the "monument" race Paris–Roubaix.{{cite news|last=Hood|first=Andrew|title=GC riders brace for rough ride on Tour's cobblestone stage|url=https://www.velonews.com/2017/10/tour-de-france/gc-riders-brace-for-rough-ride-on-tours-cobblestone-stage_450498|access-date=17 January 2019|work=VeloNews|publisher=Pocket Outdoor Media|date=18 October 2017}} For the first time in 60 to 70 years, it included a section of unpaved roads on the Glières Plateau. Overall, the route was thought to offer something for all rider types.{{cite news|last=Robertshaw|first=Henry|title=Riders and teams react to the 2018 Tour de France route announcement|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/riders-react-to-the-2018-tour-de-france-route-announcement-355444|access-date=2 August 2018|work=Cycling Weekly|date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802101719/https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/riders-react-to-the-2018-tour-de-france-route-announcement-355444|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status = dead}}{{cite news|title=Tour de France 2018 route reactions from Froome, Contador and Quintana|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-2018-route-reactions-from-froome-contador-and-quintana/|access-date=16 April 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=17 October 2017}}{{cite news|title=Roundtable: Will 2018 route favor Froome? How many can Sagan win?|url=https://www.velonews.com/2017/10/commentary/roundtable-will-2018-route-favor-froome-many-can-sagan-win_450468|access-date=16 April 2019|work=VeloNews|publisher=Pocket Outdoor Media|date=17 October 2017}}

Stage one began in the village of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île on the island of Noirmoutier, before heading along the coast of the Vendée department. The following two stages were loops, with the third taking the route north into the Maine-et-Loire department. The next three stages took place in the region of Brittany, ending with two laps of the short, but steep, climb in Mûr-de-Bretagne. The seventh, eighth and ninth stages headed north-east with finishes in Chartres, Amiens and Roubaix, respectively. A long transfer then moved the race to the Alps. Following three stages in the mountains, the Tour descended into the Drôme department and stage thirteen's finish in the city of Valence. The Massif Central highland region hosted stage fourteen, with the finish in Mende. The next two transitional stages took the race south-west to the Pyrenees across a continuous journey between Millau, Carcassonne and Bagnères-de-Luchon. After two Pyrenean stages, the eighteenth stage took place in the foothills between Trie-sur-Baïse to Pau. The next stage headed back into the mountains, before the penultimate stage, which took place close to the west coast in the French Basque Country. A long transfer took the Tour to its conclusion in Paris with the Champs-Élysées stage.{{cite news|last=Fotheringham|first=William|author-link=William Fotheringham|title=Tour de France 2018: stage-by-stage guide|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/05/tour-de-france-2018-stage-by-stage-guide|access-date=17 January 2019|work=The Guardian|date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190117053542/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/05/tour-de-france-2018-stage-by-stage-guide|archive-date=17 January 2019|url-status = live|df=dmy-all}}

There were 21 stages in the race, covering a total distance of {{convert|3351|km|0|abbr=on}}, the shortest of the 21st century up to that point.{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route|title=Route of Tour de France|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|access-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730064118/https://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status = dead}}{{sfn|Augendre|2018|p=112}} There were two time trial events, stage three's {{convert|35.5|km|0|abbr=on}} team time trial and stage twenty's {{convert|31|km|0|abbr=on}} individual time trial. Of the remaining nineteen stages, eight were officially classified as flat, five as hilly and six as mountainous. The longest mass-start stage was stage seven, at {{convert|231|km|0|abbr=on}}, and the shortest was stage seventeen, at {{convert|65|km|0|abbr=on}}. The aforementioned, a mountain stage, was the shortest since 1996 and began with a standing start grid formation, with positions based on riders general classification ranking. The grid formation was an innovation for the Tour, and with shorter distance, was beforehand universally welcomed, but it was thought to have made little effect on the race.{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Patrick|title=Tour de France grid start: Gimmick or game-changer?|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-grid-start-gimmick-or-game-changer/|access-date=15 April 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=16 June 2018}}{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Gregor|title='A beautiful stage with great racing': Teams reflect on the Tour de France's shortest stage|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/beautiful-stage-great-racing-teams-reflect-tour-de-frances-shortest-stage-388145|access-date=15 April 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=26 July 2019}} There were summit finishes on stages stage eleven to La Rosière, stage twelve to Alpe d'Huez, and stage seventeen to the Col de Portet. The highest point of elevation in the race was the {{convert|2215|m|ft|abbr=on}}-high Col de Portet Pyrenean pass, the first time it had been used in the Tour.{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Barry|title=The long and the short of the Tour de France's toughest day – Stage 17 Preview|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/the-long-and-the-short-of-the-tour-de-frances-toughest-day-stage-17-preview/|access-date=17 January 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=25 July 2018}} It was among nine hors catégorie (English: "beyond category") rated climbs in the race. There were nine new stage start or finish locations. The rest days were after stage nine, in Annecy, and fifteen, in Carcassonne.

{{Main|2018 Tour de France, Stage 1 to Stage 11|2018 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21}}

File:Tour de France 2018 (41634891790).jpg ({{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}}) was one of the many riders that fell on the sett-paving sections of stage nine.]]

Stage one's bunch sprint was won by Fernando Gaviria, with Peter Sagan coming in second place and Marcel Kittel in third. Gaviria took the yellow and green jerseys as the leader of the general and points classifications respectively. Breakaway rider Kévin Ledanois ({{UCI team code|TFO|2018|nolink=yes}}) collected the most mountains classification points to take the first polka dot jersey as the leader of the classification.{{cite news|last=Daniel|first=Ostanek|title=Tour de France: Gaviria wins opener and takes first yellow jersey|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-1/results/|access-date=30 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=7 July 2018}} Sagan won stage two from a sprint to take the yellow and green jerseys, with Dion Smith of {{UCI team code|WGG|2018|nolink=yes}} claiming the lead in the mountains classification.{{cite news|last=Ostanek|first=Daniel|title=Tour de France: Peter Sagan wins crash-marred stage 2 and takes yellow jersey|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-2/results/|access-date=30 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=8 July 2018}} Stage three's team time trial was won by {{UCI team code|BMC|2018|nolink=yes}} whose riders Tejay van Garderen and Greg Van Avermaet became tied for the overall lead,{{cite news |title=At Tour de France, BMC Presents Chris Froome With an Uphill Climb |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/10/sports/tour-de-france-stage-3-team-time-trial.html |access-date=30 July 2018 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=10 July 2018}} with Van Avermaet moving into yellow for the second time in his career due to him crossing the finish line ahead of Van Garderen in the first two stages being as there was not yet an individual time trial to measure their times down to the 1000th of a second.{{cite news |last=Zaccardi |first=Nick |title=Tejay van Garderen misses Tour de France yellow jersey on tiebreak |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/07/09/tejay-van-garderen-tour-de-france-yellow-jersey-tiebreaker/ |access-date=3 August 2018 |work=NBC Sports |date=9 July 2018}} Stage four was won by Gaviria from a bunch sprint.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/fernando-gaviria-out-sprints-peter-sagan-to-take-second-stage-win-of-tour-de-france-386011|title=Fernando Gaviria out-sprints Peter Sagan to take second stage win of Tour de France|work=Cycling Weekly|first=Henry|last=Robertshaw|date=10 July 2018|access-date=10 July 2018}} Sagan further extended his lead in the points competition by winning stage five's uphill sprint finish in Quimper. Also in stage five, Toms Skujiņš of {{UCI team code|TFS|2018|nolink=yes}} won the mountains points which gave him the polka dot jersey, becoming the first from Latvia to ever lead the mountains classification.{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Barry|title=Tour de France: Sagan wins stage 5 in Quimper|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-5/results/|access-date=9 March 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=11 July 2018}}

In stage six, which ended atop the Mûr-de-Bretagne climb, Dan Martin attacked with a kilometre remaining and was able to stay away take the victory one second ahead of a large group that the contained the general classification contenders. In the closing kilometres of the stage, Geraint Thomas won a three-second time bonus sprint that brought him to three seconds behind Van Avermaet in the general classification. Overall favourites Romain Bardet and Tom Dumoulin lost time as their tyres punctured late in the stage.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/dan-martin-takes-uphill-victory-on-tour-de-france-stage-six-as-bardet-and-dumoulin-lose-time-386252|title=Dan Martin takes uphill victory on Tour de France stage six as Bardet and Dumoulin lose time|work=Cycling Weekly|first=Henry|last=Robertshaw|date=12 July 2018|access-date=13 July 2018}} The seventh stage was won by Dylan Groenewegen from a bunch sprint.{{cite news |last=Ostlere |first=Laurence |title=Tour de France 2018: Dylan Groenewegen wins stage seven with sprint win over Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-stage-seven-report-dylan-groenewegen-fernando-gaviria-sprint-watch-video-highlights-a8446231.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-stage-seven-report-dylan-groenewegen-fernando-gaviria-sprint-watch-video-highlights-a8446231.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Independent |date=13 July 2018}}{{cbignore}} There were multiple crashes in the first week of the Tour with six riders abandoning the race for various reasons, including the 2017 Tour points classification winner Michael Matthews.{{cite news|last=Robertshaw|first=Henry|title=Who's out of the Tour de France after stage 19?|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/whos-abandoned-tour-de-france-338353|access-date=17 January 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=28 July 2018}} Groenewegen won a further bunch sprint in the eighth stage. In the sprint, André Greipel and Gaviria were penalised for headbutting each other and lost their stage placing and green jersey points.{{cite news|last1=Evans|first1=Josh|last2=Fletcher|first2=Patrick|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-greipel-gaviria-relegated-in-separate-incidents-during-sprint-in-amiens/|title=Tour de France: Greipel, Gaviria relegated in separate incidents during sprint in Amiens |website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=17 July 2018}} Stage nine's sett-paving sections caused many issues for the riders, including leading sprinters and two of the classification contenders. Richie Porte abandoned for the second year in a row after crashing in the opening {{convert|10|km|1|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/richie-porte-abandons-2018-tour-de-france-stage-nine-crash-386562|title=Richie Porte abandons 2018 Tour de France after stage nine crash|work=Cycling Weekly|first=Michelle|last=Arthurs-Brennan|date=15 July 2018|access-date=15 July 2018}} Rigoberto Urán initially tried to continue the race despite injuries sustained during a crash, but was forced to quit the race on the following stage.{{cite news|last=Snowball |first=Ben |title=Tour de France 2018: Rigoberto Uran withdraws after crash on cobbles |url=https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/tour-de-france-2018-rigoberto-uran-retires-after-crash-on-cobbles_sto6853944/story.shtml |work=Eurosport|publisher=Discovery, Inc.|access-date=15 April 2019}} Chris Froome, his teammate Egan Bernal, Jakob Fuglsang, and Mikel Landa, crashed in the stage along with many other riders; numerous riders had tyre punctures as well, including three for Bardet.{{cite news |last=McCleary |first=John |title=Tour de France 2018, stage nine: John Degenkolb triumphs after Richie Porte crashes out on day of chaos on cobbles |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2018/07/15/tour-de-france-2018-stage-nine-live-updates-cobbles-roubaix/ |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 July 2018}} His teammate Alexis Vuillermoz was forced to abandon the stage after colliding with a spectator taking photographs.{{cite news|title=Tour Shorts: Moscon questions rapid returns after cobbled crashes, Groenewegen hopes to continue |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-shorts-moscon-questions-rapid-returns-after-cobbled-crashes-groenewegen-hopes-to-continue/|access-date=9 April 2019 |website=Cyclingnews.com|date=16 July 2018}} Meanwhile, Yves Lampaert ({{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}}), John Degenkolb, and Van Avermaet were able escape the remaining riders from the peloton (main group) and together they contested a sprint finish, which was won by Degenkolb. Van Avermaet gained time, as well winning the time bonus sprint, to extend his lead in the general classification.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-9/results/|title=Tour de France: Degenkolb wins much-feared stage in Roubaix|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=15 July 2018|access-date=15 July 2018}} The following day was the Tour's first rest day.

File:Tour de France 2018, Stage 12, Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome (cropped).jpg during stage twelve's climb of Alpe d'Huez, wearing the general classification leader's yellow jersey, on his way to winning a second stage in a row]]

The first stage in the high mountains and first in the Alps, the tenth, was won by {{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}} rider Julian Alaphilippe, who attacked on his own with {{convert|30|km|1|abbr=on}} to go from a large breakaway group that included race leader Van Avermaet.{{cite news|last=Weislo|first=Laura|title=Tour de France: Alaphilippe wins in Le Grand Bornand|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-10/results/|access-date=9 March 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=17 July 2018}} The aforementioned retained the yellow jersey and extended his lead to 2 min 22 s, when pundits predicted the first day in the Alps would be his last as overall race leader.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Gregor|title=Greg Van Avermaet: 'It's an honour to ride in the yellow jersey, that's why I tried to defend it'|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/greg-van-avermaet-honour-ride-yellow-jersey-thats-tried-defend-386941|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Cycling Weekly|date=17 July 2018}} Alaphilippe also took lead of the mountains classification. Thomas achieved back-to-back wins both from the group of overall contenders on stages eleven and twelve by pushing the breakaway riders until the very end. In the steep summit finish of the eleventh, Thomas attacked in the final {{convert|1|km|1|abbr=off}}, passing lone breakaway rider Mikel Nieve ({{UCI team code|ORS|2018|nolink=yes}}) and managed to distance himself from Froome and Dumoulin by twenty seconds to take the win.{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Patrick|title=Tour de France: Geraint Thomas wins stage 11 at La Rosiere, takes yellow|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-11/results/|access-date=31 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=18 July 2018}} On the twelfth stage, which was the final day in the Alps, Thomas won the sprint on the flat finish after the climb to Alpe d'Huez. {{UCI team code|TLJ|2018|nolink=yes}}'s Steven Kruijswijk was caught by the group of overall contenders in the final kilometres after he had launched a solo attack with {{convert|70|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining.{{cite news |last=Cary |first=Tom |title=Tour de France 2018, stage 12: Geraint Thomas makes history on Alpe d'Huez as Welshman extends overall lead|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2018/07/19/tour-de-france-2018-stage-12-live-updates-road-alpe-dhuez/ |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=20 July 2018}} Following the stage, the general classification top three was: Thomas in first position, Froome second, 1 min 39 s down, and Dumoulin third, a further 11 seconds behind.{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2018 – Stage 12|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-12|access-date=9 March 2019|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309225824/https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-12|archive-date=9 March 2019|url-status = dead}} General classification contender Vincenzo Nibali, who was fourth overall,{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2018 – Stage 12|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-11|access-date=10 March 2019|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310004240/https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-11|archive-date=10 March 2019|url-status = dead}} was forced to withdraw from the Tour following the stage after an incident near the summit of Alpe d'huez where he fell off his bike fracturing a vertebra taking Roglič down with him. It was initially suspected that the crash had been caused by a police motorcycle driving in front of him, but it later emerged that he became caught in a spectator's camera strap.{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Barry|title=Vincenzo Nibali transported to hospital after crash on Alpe d'Huez |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vincenzo-nibali-transported-to-hospital-after-crash-on-alpe-dhuez/|date=19 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=7 April 2019}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-questioned-by-french-police-for-three-hours-about-tour-de-france-crash/|title=Nibali questioned by French police for three hours about Tour de France crash|date=18 November 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=7 April 2019}} Nibali's team management saw the lack of crowd control from the police and spectators lighting flares as contributing factors. Following the incident, Christian Prudhomme appealed to fans to show the riders more respect.{{cite news|last=Whittle|first=Jeremy|title=Peter Sagan wins stage as Prudhomme's call for Tour calm goes up in smoke|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/20/peter-sagan-sprints-third-tour-de-france-victory-stage-13|access-date=10 March 2019|work=The Guardian|date=20 July 2018}} Many riders left the Tour during the Alpine stages, either being forced to abandon due to fatigue and injury, or were disqualified for finishing outside the cut-off time;{{efn|name=cut-off|Riders were required to finish stages within a set time based on the stage winner's time and the difficulty coefficient of the stage. Reasons for exceptions to this rule could have been the average stage speed, the occurrence of an incident or accident, and impassable roads.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=27}}}} riders of note were the sprinters Mark Cavendish, Gaviria, Greipel, Groenewegen, and Kittel.{{cite news|last=Arthurs-Brennan|first=Michelle|title=André Greipel, Fernando Gaviria and Dylan Groenewegen abandon Tour de France in sprinters' mass exodus|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/andre-greipel-fernando-gaviria-dylan-groenewegen-abandon-tour-de-france-sprinters-mass-exodus-387342|access-date=10 March 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=19 July 2018}}{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Joseph |title=3 more top sprinters and Uran out of Tour de France |url=https://www.apnews.com/ac40cfa52bcd42bf919eb2f5470b2b09 |access-date=10 March 2019 |work=Associated Press}}

Sagan won stage thirteen with a surprise attack in the closing meters of the bunch sprint finish, while Alexander Kristoff and Arnaud Démare were together sprinting for the finish line.{{cite news |last=O'Shea |first=Sadhbh |title=Kristoff: I thought I had it, but Peter Sagan was too fast |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kristoff-i-thought-i-had-it-but-peter-sagan-was-too-fast/ |access-date=29 July 2018 |website=Cyclingnews.com|date=20 July 2018}} In stage fourteen, Omar Fraile of {{UCI team code|AST|2018|nolink=yes}} launched a late move from the large breakaway after the final climb to win at the Mende aerodrome; the breakaway finished eighteen minutes ahead of the peloton.{{cite news|last=Ostanek|first=Daniel|title=Tour de France: Fraile wins in Mende|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-14/results/|access-date=10 March 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=21 July 2018}} Stage fifteen, the start of the final week, was once again a breakaway victory, with Magnus Cort taking {{UCI team code|AST|2018|nolink=yes}}'s second win in two days.{{cite news|title= Magnus Cort Nielsen sprints to victory in Tour de France Stage 15 |url=http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/11445622/magnus-cort-nielsen-sprints-to-victory-in-tour-de-france-stage-15|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky plc|date=22 July 2018}} The next day was the second rest day of the race. Following the stage, controversy arose around Team Sky rider Gianni Moscon, who had allegedly punched Fortune-Samsic rider Élie Gesbert during the opening part of the stage. After reviewing footage of the incident, the race jury disqualified him for 'particularly serious aggression'.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/22/magnus-cort-nielsen-wins-stage-15-of-toue-de-france-in-sprint-finish|title=Team Sky's Gianni Moscon kicked off Tour de France for striking opponent|last=Whittle|first=Jeremy|date=22 July 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 April 2019}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gianni-moscon-disqualified-from-tour-de-france/|title=Gianni Moscon disqualified from Tour de France|last=Ryan|first=Barry|date=22 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=9 April 2019}} A non-racing incident occurred during the sixteenth stage when hay bales were placed across the road by local farmers protesting about reductions to their subsidies. The police used tear gas to disperse them, and as the riders rode past this area, there was still gas in the air. The race was subsequently neutralized for about fifteen minutes because several riders had problems with their eyes and had to rinse them.{{cite news|last=Cary|first=Tom|title=Tour de France chief appeals for calm after peloton left 'choking' on pepper spray intended for protesting farmers|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2018/07/24/tour-de-france-chief-appeals-calm-peloton-left-choking-pepper/|access-date=15 April 2019|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 July 2018}} After the restart, a large breakaway escaped, and Philippe Gilbert ({{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}}), while in the lead on a descent, lost control of his bicycle and crashed into and over a wall. Later, Adam Yates, having taken the lead, also fell. Gilbert finished the stage and collected the most combative rider award, but would not start the following day. Yates carried on, but was overtaken by Alaphilippe, who took his second stage victory.{{cite news|last=O'Shea|first=Sadhbh|title=Gilbert: Leaving the Tour really hurts |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/philippe-gilbert-abandons-the-tour-de-france/|access-date=15 April 2019 |website=Cyclingnews.com|date=24 July 2018}}{{cite news|last=Glendenning|first=Barry |title=Tour de France 2018: Alaphilippe wins stage 16 after Adam Yates crash |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/jul/24/tour-de-france-2018-stage-16-takes-race-to-the-pyrenees-live |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Guardian|date=24 July 2018}}

File:TDF14341 alaphilippe (43769470491).jpg (pictured on stage 16) won the mountains classification's polka dot jersey, winning two of the six mountain stages.]]

The first of three stages in the Pyrenees, the seventeenth, opened with an uneventful grid formation, which saw the customary early formation of a breakaway group. Froome's challenge faded on the approach to the summit of the Col de Portet and he dropped to third position in the general classification, 2 min 31 s behind Thomas. Dumoulin moved into second place, 1 min 59 s off the lead. Nairo Quintana won the stage after attacking at the bottom of the final climb, moving himself up to fifth overall, behind Primož Roglič.{{cite news|last=MacLeary|first=John|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2018/07/25/tour-de-france-2018-stage-17-live-updates/|title=Tour de France 2018, stage 17: Geraint Thomas tightens grip on yellow as Chris Froome cracks as Nairo Quintana ends five-year wait for victory |work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=29 July 2018}} The flat stage eighteen was won by Démare from a bunch sprint. By this point of the Tour, most of the top sprinters had left, and Démare had come close to missing the time cut in the previous stage along with Sagan, who had crashed heavily and was suffering with injuries.{{cite news|title= Arnaud Démare wins Tour de France stage 18; Geraint Thomas retains yellow jersey |url=http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/11449863/arnaud-demare-wins-tour-de-france-stage-18-geraint-thomas-retains-yellow-jersey|access-date=31 July 2018|work=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky plc|date=27 July 2018}} On the mountainous stage nineteen, Roglič attacked on the descent following the final climb, to a misty Col d'Aubisque, and soloed to the finish line nineteen seconds ahead of the chasing small group of overall favourites. Roglič took third place from Froome. Thomas was able to consolidate his overall position by picking up six bonus seconds by winning the sprint for second place, thereby extending his lead over Dumoulin to 2 min 5 s.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44984810|title=Tour de France: Geraint Thomas edges closer to victory after second place on stage 19|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=29 July 2018}} The penultimate stage's {{convert|31|km|1|abbr=on}} individual time trial was won by Dumoulin, who finished one second ahead of Froome. Froome in turn managed to retake third place from Roglič. Thomas came third after surviving a scare when his back wheel locked, but completed the stage successfully, finishing fourteen seconds behind Dumoulin, taking a lead of 1 min 51 s into the final stage.{{cite news|last=Scrivener|first=Peter|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44992130 |publisher=BBC Sport | title=Tour de France: Geraint Thomas set to win after maintaining lead on stage 20 |access-date=29 July 2018}}

The final stage in Paris was won by Kristoff in a bunch sprint on the Champs-Élysées.{{cite news|last=Scrivener|first=Peter|title=Tour de France: Geraint Thomas wins as Chris Froome finishes third|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44998961|access-date=30 July 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 July 2018}} Thomas won the race with no changes in the final stage. Froome came third overall, 2 min 24 s down on Thomas. Sagan won the points classification with a total of 477, 231 ahead of Kristoff in second. Alaphilippe won the mountains classification with 169 points, with the 2017 winner and French compatriot Warren Barguil ({{UCI team code|FVC|2018|nolink=yes}}) second with 80 points. The best young rider was thirteenth-placed overall Pierre Latour ({{UCI team code|ALM|2018|nolink=yes}}), with fifteenth-placed overall Bernal second. {{UCI team code|MOV|2018|nolink=yes}} finished as the winners of the team classification, 12 min 33 s ahead of second-placed {{UCI team code|SKY|2018|nolink=yes}}. Of the 176 starters, 145 reached the finish of the last stage in Paris.{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2018 – Stage 21|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-21|access-date=30 July 2018|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307183335/https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-21|archive-date=7 March 2019|url-status = dead}}

Four main individual classifications were contested in the 2018 Tour de France, as well as a team competition. The most important was the general classification, calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|pp=29–30}} Time bonuses (time subtracted) were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the time trial stages. The first three riders received 10, 6, and 4 seconds, respectively. Time bonuses of three, two and one seconds, were given to the first three riders to cross a "bonus point" in each of the first nine mass-start stages of the race. It would affect the general, but not the points classification.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=31}} For crashes within the final {{convert|3|km|1|abbr=on}} of a stage, not including time trials and summit finishes, any rider involved received the same time as the group he was in when the crash occurred.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=26}} The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the general classification and was considered to be the overall winner of the Tour.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|pp=29–30}} The rider leading the classification wore a yellow jersey.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=23}}

The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing among the highest placed in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stage. The points available for each stage finish were determined by the stage's type.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=30}} The leader was identified by a green jersey.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=23}}

The third classification was the mountains classification. Points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit of the most difficult climbs first. The climbs were categorised, in order of increasing difficulty, as fourth-, third-, second-, and first-category and hors catégorie. Double points were awarded at the top of the last mountains in the three mountain stages in the three Pyreneean stages (the Col du Portillon, the Col de Portet and the Col d'Aubisque).{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=30}} The leader wore a white jersey with red polka dots.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=23}}

The final individual classification was the young rider classification. This was calculated the same way as the general classification, but was restricted to riders born on or after 1 January 1993.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=30}} The leader wore a white jersey.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=23}}

The final classification was a team classification. This was calculated using the finishing times of the best three riders per team on each stage; the leading team was the team with the lowest cumulative time. The number of stage victories and placings per team determined the outcome of a tie.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=30}} The riders on the team that lead this classification are identified with yellow number bibs on the back of their jerseys and yellow helmets.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=24}}

In addition, there was a combativity award given after each stage to the rider considered, by a jury, to have "made the greatest effort and who demonstrated the best qualities of sportsmanship".{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=31}} No combativity awards were given for the time trials and the final stage.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=19}} The winner wore a red number bib the following stage.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|pp=23–24}} At the conclusion of the Tour, Dan Martin won the overall super-combativity award which was, again, awarded by a jury.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=31}}

A total of €2,287,750 was awarded in cash prizes in the race.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=19}} The overall winner of the general classification received €500,000, with the second and third placed riders getting €200,000 and €100,000 respectively.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=17}} All finishers in the top 160 were awarded money.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=17}} The holders of the classifications benefited on each stage they led; the final winners of the points and mountains were given €25,000, while the best young rider and most combative rider got €20,000.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|pp=17–19}} The team classification winners were given €50,000.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=18}} €11,000 was given to the winners of each stage of the race, with smaller amounts given to places 2–20.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=17}} There were also two special awards each with a prize of €5000.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=19}} The Souvenir Henri Desgrange, given to first rider to pass the summit of the highest climb in the Tour, the Col du Portet on stage seventeen,{{cite news|title=Tour de France 2018: Stage 17 preview|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2018/stage-17/preview/|access-date=2 July 2018|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=16 June 2018}} and the Souvenir Jacques Goddet, given to the first rider to pass Goddet's memorial at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet in stage nineteen.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=19}} Nairo Quintana won the Henri Desgrange and Julian Alaphilippe won the Jacques Goddet.{{cite news|last=Lowe|first=Felix|title=Tour de France 2018: Quintana wins on Col du Portet as Froome cracks and Thomas strengthens GC grip|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/tour-de-france-2018-quintana-wins-on-col-de-portet-as-froome-cracks-and-thomas-strengthens-gc-grip_sto6861966/story.shtml|access-date=30 July 2018|work=Eurosport|publisher=Discovery Communications|date=25 July 2018}}{{cite news|last=Lowe|first=Felix|title=Tour de France 2018: Geraint Thomas extends lead as Primoz Roglic zips to Stage 19 win|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/geraint-thomas-extends-lead-as-primoz-roglic-moves-onto-virtual-podium-with-stage-19-victory_sto6864833/story.shtml|access-date=30 July 2018|work=Eurosport|publisher=Discovery Communications|date=27 July 2018}}

• On stage two, Marcel Kittel, who was third in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Fernando Gaviria wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification and Peter Sagan, who was second in the points classification, wore the rainbow jersey of the world champion.{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2018 – Stage 1|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-1|access-date=3 March 2019|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303014546/https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-1|archive-date=3 March 2019|url-status = live}}
• On stage two, Dylan Groenewegen, who was second in the best young rider classification, wore the white jersey, because first placed Fernando Gaviria wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.
• On stage three, Alexander Kristoff, who was third in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Peter Sagan wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification, and second placed Fernando Gaviria wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification.{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2018 – Stage 2|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-2|access-date=3 March 2019|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303014549/https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings/stage-2|archive-date=3 March 2019|url-status = live}}
• On stage seventeen Philippe Gilbert did not start, so no rider wore the red bib as the most combative rider of previous stage.{{cite news|last=O'Shea|first=Sadhbh|title=Philippe Gilbert abandons the Tour de France|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/philippe-gilbert-abandons-the-tour-de-france/|access-date=3 March 2019|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=24 July 2018}}

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Riders from the WorldTeams competed individually and for their teams for points that contributed towards the World Tour rankings.{{sfn|UCI cycling regulations|2018|pp=84–85}} Riders from both the WorldTeams and Professional Continental teams also competed individually and for their nations for points that contributed towards the UCI World Ranking, which included all UCI road races.{{sfn|UCI cycling regulations|2018|pp=61–62}} Both rankings used the same points scale, awarding points to the top sixty in the general classification, each yellow jersey given at the end of a stage, the top five finishers in each stage and for the top three in the final points and mountains classifications.{{sfn|Race regulations|2018|p=21}} The points accrued by Thomas moved him from 20th to second in the World Tour individual ranking and from 41st to fourth in the individual World Ranking. Sagan kept his position at the top of both rankings, with {{UCI team code|QST|2018|nolink=yes}} and Belgium also holding the lead of the World Tour team ranking and World Ranking nation ranking respectively.{{cite news|title=The UCI WorldTour Chronicle|url=https://www.uci.org/road/news/2018/the-uci-worldtour-chronicle-tdf-week-3-2018|access-date=16 January 2019|work=Union Cycliste Internationale|date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116170017/https://www.uci.org/road/news/2018/the-uci-worldtour-chronicle-tdf-week-3-2018|archive-date=16 January 2019|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last=Arthurs-Brennan|first=Michelle|title=Peter Sagan leads UCI WorldTour rankings ahead of Geraint Thomas|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/peter-sagan-leads-uci-worldtour-ranking-388791|access-date=16 January 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web|title=UCI WorldTour Individual Ranking|url=https://dataride.uci.ch/Results/iframe/RankingDetails/7?disciplineId=10&groupId=3&momentId=32141&disciplineSeasonId=89&rankingTypeId=1&categoryId=22&raceTypeId=0|access-date=16 January 2019|work=Union Cycliste Internationale}}{{cite web|title=UCI World Individual Ranking|url=https://dataride.uci.ch/Results/iframe/RankingDetails/1?disciplineId=10&groupId=1&momentId=32146&disciplineSeasonId=89&rankingTypeId=1&categoryId=22&raceTypeId=0|access-date=16 January 2019|work=Union Cycliste Internationale}}

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{{Portal|Sports|France}}

• 2018 in men's road cycling
• 2018 in sports
• 2018 La Course by Le Tour de France

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|first=Jacques|last=Augendre|author-link=Jacques Augendre|url=http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/2018-historical-guide.pdf|title=Guide historique|trans-title=Historical guide|year=2018|language=fr|access-date=2 August 2018|work=Tour de France|publication-place=Paris|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718214319/http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/2018-historical-guide.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status = live}}
• {{cite book|title=Race regulations|url=http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf2018-reglement.pdf|work=Tour de France|location=Paris|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702123811/http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf2018-reglement.pdf|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status = live|access-date=2 July 2018|year=2018|ref={{harvid|Race regulations|2018}}}}
• {{cite book|url=http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/Rulesandregulation/18/23/94/2-ROA-20180101-E_English.PDF|title=UCI cycling regulations|series=Part 2, road races|date=1 January 2018|access-date=24 March 2019|publication-place=Aigle, Switzerland|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135231/http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/Rulesandregulation/18/23/94/2-ROA-20180101-E_English.PDF|archive-date=16 January 2018|url-status = dead|ref={{harvid|UCI cycling regulations|2018}}}}

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• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804025047/http://www.letour.fr/en/|date=4 August 2018|title=Official website}}{{cbignore}}

{{2018 UCI World Tour}}

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{{Cycling stage recaps|2018 Tour de France|1|11|12|21}}

{{Tour de France general classification winners}}

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Category:2018 UCI World Tour

Category:July 2018 sports events in France

2018