The 2018 Tour de France route was announced live on Tuesday 17th October in the Palais des Congres, Paris. The 105th edition of the Tour de France is set to take place from 7th to 29th July 2018 with a Grand Depart in the Vendee and the Pays de Loire region.
In attendance was defending champion Chris Froome, who picked up the 2017 Velo d'Or. Also there was the home nation's best chance of a win in recent years, Romain Bardet.
The 2018 Tour will also be the shortest of the decade so far at just 3,329km over the three weeks. This is in large part thanks to more compact stages such as the Stage 17 to the Col de Portet which is only 65km long.
Among the key obstacles for the peloton next year will be the cobbled roads featured on Stage 9 to Roubaix. With 15 Secteurs covering 21.7km, this could be a decisive day for the race.
Tour de France 2018: key information
Dates: Saturday 7th to Sunday 29th July
Grand Depart Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Vendee - Pays de la Loire, France
Finale: Champs-Elysees, Paris, France
Countries visited: France
UK television coverage: ITV4, Eurosport
All details open to change
Tour de France route 2018: stage-by-stage
Stage 1: Saturday 7th July: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile - Fontenay-le-Comte, 195km
The Grand Depart of the 2018 Tour de France is set to take place in Vendee - Pays de la Loire of North Western France, a fact we already knew long before the full route announcement.
Stage 1 of the Tour de France 2018 sets off on Saturday 7th July from Noirmoutier-En-L'Ile and tracks the coastline for much of the day, before heading in land to finish at Fontenay-Le-Comte after 195km.
The race will start with the Passage du Gois, which only connects the island with the mainland at lowtide.
Stage 2: Sunday 8th July: Mouilleron-Saint Germain - La Roche-sur-Yon, 185km
The second stage is marginally shorter and keeps the race in the same region, as it covers 185km from Mouilleron-Saint Germain to La Roche-sur-Yon, a route that stays in land in contrast to the previous day.
Both of these stages will likely see a sprinter take the win and with it the first (and maybe second) yellow jerseys of the race.
Stage 3: Monday 9th July: Cholet - Cholet, 35km (TTT)
Expect to hear the cliche 'the race won't be won here, but it could be lost' as the GC contenders look to rely on the power of their teammates in the 35km Team Time Trial.
The organisers say this will be 'a crucial TTT for GC contenders.'
It will almost definitely see the overall race lead change hands and with any luck could be the start of a race-long battle between Tom Dumoulin and Chris Froome.
However, any time gaps formed here could be easily wiped out with a single mountain ascent later in the race.
Stage 4: Tuesday 10th July: La Baule - Sarzeau, 192km
Details on stage 4's finish town were kept secret ahead of the official presentation of the Tour de France 2018 route, but we did already know that it will take the race away from the opening region.
Stage 4 of the 2018 Tour de France will head out of La Baule and go north east to Dervai, before a finish in Sarzeau.
Stage 5: Wednesday 11th July: Lorient - Quimper, 203km
Stage 6: Thursday 12th July: Brest - Mur de Bretagne, 181km
Stage 7: Friday 13th July: Fougeres - Chartres, 231km
Stage 8: Saturday 14th July: Dreux - Amiens, 181km
Stage 9: Sunday 15th July: Arras - Roubaix, 154km
Stage preview: Stage 9 to take on 15 cobbled secteurs
Rest/travel day: Monday 16th July: Annecy
Stage 10: Tuesday 17th July: Annecy - Le Grand-Bornand, 159km
Stage 11: Wednesday 18th July: Albertville - La Rosiere, 108km
Stage 12: Thursday 19th July: Bourg-Saint-Maurice - Alpe d'Huez, 175km
Stage 13: Friday 20th July: Bourg d'Oisans - Valence, 169km
Stage 14: Saturday 21st July: Saint-Paul Trois-Chateux - Mende, 187km
Stage 15: Sunday 22nd July: Millau - Carcassonne, 181km
Rest day: Monday 23rd July: Carcassonne
Stage 16: Tuesday 24th July: Carcassonne - Bagneres-de-Luchon, 218km
Stage 17: Wednesday 25th July: Bagnere-de-Luchon - Saint-lary-Soulan, 65km
Stage preview: Stage 17 only 65km with summit finish on the Col de Portet
Stage 18: Thursday 26th July: Trie-Sur-Baise - Pau, 172km
Stage 19: Friday 27th July: Lourdes - Laruns, 200km
Stage 20: Saturday 28th July: Espelette - Saint-Pee Sur-Nivelle (ITT), 31km
Stage 21: Sunday 29th July: Houilles - Paris, 115km
Head through to page two for the 2018 Tour de France start list
Tour de France 2018: Start list
The wildcard teams that will race the 2018 Tour de France have been announced. Direct Energie, Cofidis, Fortuneo-Samsic and Wanty-Groupe Gobert will compete alongside the 18 WorldTour teams at the French Grand Tour.
French fans are likely to be happy. The selection has a strong Gallic theme with three of the wildcard teams coming from the host nation. Belgian squad Wanty take the final team place as they did in 2017.
The race begins with the Grand Départ in Vendee - Pays de la Loire of North Western France on Saturday 7th July.
The 2018 Tour de France start list will be populated below as riders are confirmed.
Tour de France 2018: WorldTour teams
Ag2r La Mondiale (Fra)
Astana (Kaz)
Bahrain-Merida (Bhr)
BMC Racing (USA)
Bora-Hansgrohe (Ger)
Dimension Data (RSA)
EF Education First-Drapac
FDJ (Fra)
Katusha-Alpecin (Sui)
Lotto NL-Jumbo (Ned)
Lotto Soudal (Bel)
Mitchelton-Scott (Aus)
Movistar (Esp)
Quick-Step Floors (Bel)
Team Sky (GBr)
Team Sunweb (Ger)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
Tour de France 2018: Wildcard teams
Cofidis (Fra)
Direct Energie (Fra)
Fortuneo-Vital Concept (Fra)
Wanty–Groupe Gobert (Bel)
Tour de France 2017: Live TV guide
Live TV coverage of the 2017 Tour de France from Eurosport and ITV4
Stage 1: Saturday 1st July
1400-1815 Stage 1 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 1 highlights, Eurosport 1
1400-1800 Stage 1 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 1 highlights, ITV4
Stage 2: Sunday 2nd July
1100-1645 Stage 2 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 2 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1645 Stage 2 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 2 highlights, ITV4
Stage 3: Monday 3rd July
1115-1700 Stage 3 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 3 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1645 Stage 3 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 3 highlights, ITV4
Stage 4: Tuesday 4th July
1100-1645 Stage 4 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 4 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1630 Stage 4 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 1 highlights, ITV4
Stage 5: Wednesday 5th July
1200-1700 Stage 5 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 5 highlights, Eurosport 1
1200-1645 Stage 5 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 5 highlights, ITV4
Stage 6: Thursday 6th July
1100-1700 Stage 6 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 6 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1700 Stage 6 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 6 highlights, ITV4
Stage 7: Friday 7th July
1100-1700 Stage 7 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 7 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1700 Stage 7 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 7 highlights, ITV4
Stage 8: Saturday 8th July
1100-1700 Stage 8 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 8 highlights, Eurosport 2
1100-1630 Stage 8 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 8 highlights, ITV4
Stage 9: Sunday 9th July
1030-1645 Stage 9 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 9 highlights, Eurosport 1
1030-1630 Stage 9 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 9 highlights, ITV4
Rest day: Monday 10th July
1900-2000 rest day highlights, ITV4
Stage 10: Tuesday 11th July
1215-1700 Stage 10 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 10 highlights, Eurosport 1
1200-1700 Stage 10 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 10 highlights, ITV4
Stage 11: Wednesday 12th July
1145-1715 Stage 11 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 11 highlights, Eurosport 1
1200-1715 Stage 11 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 11 highlights, ITV4
Stage 12: Thursday 13th July
0945-1630 Stage 12 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 12 highlights, Eurosport 1
0945-1630 Stage 12 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 12 highlights, ITV4
Stage 13: Friday 14th July
1315-1700 Stage 13 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 13 highlights, Eurosport 1
1330-1700 Stage 13 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 13 highlights, ITV4
Stage 14: Saturday 15th July
1200-1700 Stage 14 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 14 highlights, Eurosport 1
1200-1700 Stage 14 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 14 highlights, ITV4
Stage 15: Sunday 16th July
1200-1715 Stage 15 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 15 highlights, Eurosport 1
1200-1730 Stage 15 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 15 highlights, ITV4
Rest day: Monday 17th July
1900-2000 rest day highlights, ITV4
Stage 16: Tuesday 18th July
1230-1645 Stage 16 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 16 highlights, Eurosport 1
1230-1645 Stage 16 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 16 highlights, ITV4
Stage 17: Wednesday 19th July
1100-1700 Stage 17 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 17 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1700 Stage 17 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 17 highlights, ITV4
Stage 18: Thursday 20th July
0900-1100 La Course by Le Tour live coverage, Eurosport 1
1145-1700 Stage 18 live coverage, Eurosport 1
1900-2000 La Course by Le Tour highlights, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 18 highlights, Eurosport 1
1130-1700 Stage 18 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 18 highlights, ITV4
Stage 19: Friday 21st July
1115-1700 Stage 19 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 19 highlights, Eurosport 1
1100-1700 Stage 19 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 19 highlights, ITV4
Stage 20: Saturday 22nd July
1245-1700 Stage 20 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 20 highlights, Eurosport 1
1230-1700 Stage 20 live coverage, ITV4
1900-2000 Stage 20 highlights, ITV4
Stage 21: Sunday 23rd July
1730-1845 Stage 21 live coverage, Eurosport 1
2000-2200 Stage 21 highlights, Eurosport 1
15300-1900 Stage 21 live coverage, ITV4
2100-2200 Stage 21 highlights, ITV4
Tour de France 2017: Route, race reports, TV guide and all you need to know
The 2017 Tour de France route visited three other countries in the opening stages before it finally went into France. The 2017 Grand Départ took place on a rainy day in Dusseldorf, Germany, to kickstart the three week Grand Tour on Saturday 1st July.
From Germany the Tour de France 2017 route hopped through Belgium and Luxembourg before it visited the west and south of France. The race went into the Alps twice and the Pyrenees in between, with a decisive time trial in Marseille on stage 20.
Chris Froome (Team Sky) won the race to take his fourth overall title. He was pushed closer than on any of his other winning rides but realistically it never looked like anyone else would stand on the top step of the podium in Paris.
Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) came second and Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) was third. Just one second off the podium was Mikel Landa (Team Sky), who will be changing teams at the end of the season and a likely overall contender at the 2018 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2017: key information
Dates: Saturday 1st to Sunday 23rd July
Grand Départ: Dusseldorf, Germany
Finale: Champs-Elysees, Paris
Countries visited: Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France
UK television coverage: ITV4, Eurosport - Full Tour de France 2017 live TV guide
Tour de France 2017: Stage 21, Montgeron – Paris Champs-Élysées (103km), result
1. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, in 2-25-39
2. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, at same time
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data, st
4. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, st
5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin, st
6. Borut Bozic (Slo) Bahrain-Merida, st
7. Davide Cimolai (Ita) FDJ, st
8. Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo–Oscaro, st
9. Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, st
10. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Movistar, st
Tour de France 2017: Final general classification top 10
1. Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky, 86-20-55
2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac, at 0:54
3. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 2:20
4. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky, at 2:21
5. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 3:05
6. Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors, at 4:42
7. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 6:14
8. Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates, at 8:20
9. Alberto Contador (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 8:49
10. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb, at 9:25
Tour de France route 2017: Route
Tour de France route 2017: Route stage-by-stage
Stage 1: Düsseldorf (DE), 13.8km (ITT)
Race report: Geraint Thomas becomes eighth British yellow jersey with Tour de France 2017 Stage 1 win
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France 2017 Stage 1 video highlights
Stage 2: Dusseldorf (DE) – Liège (BE), 202km
Race report: Marcel Kittel wins Stage 2 of the 2017 Tour de France; Mark Cavendish finishes fourth
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France 2017 Stage 2 highlights (videos and gallery)
Stage 3: Verviers (BE) – Longwy, 202km
Race report: Peter Sagan wins Tour de France Stage 3 despite unclipping with 200m to go
Stage 4: Mondorf-les-Bains (LUX) – Vittel, 203km
Race report: Mark Cavendish out of race as Arnaud Démare wins Stage 4 of the 2017 Tour de France
Video highlights: Tour de France Stage 4 highlights – Cavendish down, Sagan out
Stage 5: Vittel – La Planche des Belles Filles, 160km (Summit finish)
Race report: Froome takes yellow as Aru wins Stage 5 of the 2017 Tour de France
Video highlights: Tour de France Stage 5 highlights: Aru wins but Froome in yellow
Stage 6: Vesoul – Troyes, 216km
Race report: Marcel Kittel takes Tour de France Stage 6 in sprint
Video highlights: Kittel's second stage win of the 2017 Tour de France
Stage 7: Troyes – Nuits-Saint-Georges, 214km
Race report: Marcel Kittel wins Stage 7 of the 2017 Tour de France in extremely close sprint finish
Stage 8: Dole – Station des Rousses, 187km (Summit finish)
Race report: Lilian Calmejane wins Tour de France Stage 8 from breakaway
Video: highlights: The 2017 Tour de France's first breakaway win
Stage 9: Nantua – Chambéry, 181km
Race report: Rigoberto Uran wins Stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France in photo finish on a day defined by crashes
Big news: Geraint Thomas crashes out of 2017 Tour de France with suspected broken collarbone
Video highlights: Heartbreak for Barguil as Uran wins Stage 9 in photo finish
Rest day: Perigueux
Gallery: Highlights of the 2017 Tour de France
Stage 10: Périgueux – Bergerac, 178km
Race report: Marcel Kittel sprints to victory on Stage 10 of the 2017 Tour de France
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France 2017 Stage 10 video highlights
Stage 11: Eymet – Pau, 202km
Race report: Marcel Kittel takes fifth win on flat Stage 11 in 2017 Tour de France
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France Stage 11 video highlights
Stage 12: Pau – Peyragudes, 214km (Summit finish)
Race report: Romain Bardet wins Tour de France Stage 12, Aru takes yellow
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France Stage 12 video highlights
Strava: Check out Romain Bardet’s Stage 12 Tour de France win on Strava
Stage 13: Saint-Girons – Foix, 100km
Race report: Warren Barguil wins dramatic Tour de France 2017 Stage 13 on Bastille Day
Video highlights: Watch: Tour de France Stage 13 video highlights
Stage 14: Blagnac – Rodez, 181km
Race report: Chris Froome back in yellow as Michael Matthews wins Tour de France Stage 14
Video highlights: The yellow jersey changes hands on Stage 14 of the 2017 Tour de France
Stage 15: Laissac-Sévérac L’Eglise – Le Puy-en-Velay, 189km
Race report: Drama for Chris Froome as Bauke Mollema goes solo to win Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2017
Video highlights: A breakaway win and nearly a GC upset on Stage 15 of the Tour de France
Rest day: Le Puy-en-Velay
Gallery: Highlights of the 2017 Tour de France
Stage 16: Brioude – Romans-sur-Isère, 165km
Race report: Michael Matthews wins Stage 16 of the 2017 Tour de France on a day defined by the wind
Video highlights: Team Sunweb's plan goes perfectly on Stage 16 of the Tour de France
Stage 17: La Mure – Serre Chevalier, 183km
Big news: Green jersey Marcel Kittel abandons 2017 Tour de France after crash
Race report: Primoz Roglic wins mountainous Stage 17 of 2017 Tour de France as Froome increases lead
Video highlights: Froome distances rival Aru, as Roglic takes first stage win
Stage 18: Briançon – Col d’Izoard, 178km (Summit finish)
Preview: HC climbs: Col d’Izoard
Race report: Barguil triumphs on the Izoard, Froome set to win fourth Tour
Video highlights: Warren Barguil wins as Froome survives on the Izoard
La Course by the Tour de France: Stage 1
Race report: Annemiek van Vleuten wins Stage 1 of the 2017 La Course by Le Tour de France from solo attack
Stage 19: Embrun – Salon-de-Provence, 220km
Race report: Edvald Boasson Hagen wins Stage 19 of the 2017 Tour de France as Froome remains in Yellow
Video highlights: No need for a photo finish for Edvald Boasson Hagen on Stage 19
Stage 20: Marseille – Marseille, 23km (ITT)
Race report: Froome secures yellow jersey as Maciej Bodnar takes time trial win on Tour de France 2017 Stage 20
La Course by the Tour de France: Stage 2
Race report: Annemiek van Vleuten wins Stage 2 and the overall at La Course by Le Tour de France
Stage 21: Montgeron – Paris, 100km
Race report: Chris Froome wins 2017 Tour de France as Dylan Groenewegen wins sprint on Stage 21
Tour de France 2017: The favourites
Neither of the two key favourites for the 2017 Tour have had the preparation they intended which opens up the possibility of a winner from outside of the expected duo.
Chris Froome (Team Sky), the three time winner and current defending champion, has not scored a win for quite some time and could only manage fourth overall at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, rather than the record fourth win he was aiming for.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) failed at the first in his attempt to conquer the Giro-Tour double when he was unable to hold pink in the Giro d'italia's final stage time trial. It was a hard fought three weeks that saw the Colombian fall short of the eventual winner Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).
How well Quintana can recover from that race before taking the start line of the Tour de France will be a key factor in the way the race unfolds.
Last year's runner-up and - despite what he says when asked - a rider with a strong chance of overall victory, Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) could be the rider to spoil Froome's procession around France.
Seemingly the only rider to not fall in line with the Team Sky-led club run in the final week last year, when he rode aggressively and moved up from fifth to second overall while others seemed happy to consolidate a low top-10, the young Frenchman is a joy to watch and clearly loves riding his bike.
A French GC win in the French Grand Tour last happened five years before Bardet was born, so a home win is well overdue and many would back him as the man to do it.
Richie Porte (BMC Racing) had a much better Dauphiné than Froome, where he won the time trial and spent time in the leader's jersey. Porte is clearly a talent and was a super-domestipue for Froome and Bradley Wiggins before that, but has never been able to quite challenge the podium over the full three weeks.
The Australian came fifth at the 2016 Tour de France but realistically never looked like he'd be stood on any of the three steps on the Champs-Elysees come the end. This year could well be different.