CHRIS FROOME has a golden chance of equalling the record of FIVE Tour de France victories next summer, but will have to conquer the cobbles in 2018.
The Team Sky star will have to face the iconic climb at Alpe d’Huez – but will have only 31km of individual time trials in which to gain more time on his rivals.
The Tour starts in the Loire region and Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile on July 7 next year and will also feature cobbles, finishing in Roubaix Velodrome – the end point of the famous Paris-Roubaix one-day race.
If he wins, Froome will join the elite club of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain on five Tour victories.
Mark Cavendish will also be keen to get closer to Merckx’s 34 Tour stage victories – the Manx Missile is four behind – with plenty of sprint finishes on offer.
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What stages are there in the 2018 Tour de France?
Stage 1 – July 7 – NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L’ÎLE > FONTENAY-LE-COMTE – 195km
Stage 2 – July 8 – MOUILLERON-SAINT-GERMAIN > LA ROCHE-SUR-YON – 185km
Stage 3 – July 9 – CHOLET > CHOLET – 35km
Stage 4 – July 10 – LA BAULE > SARZEAU – 192km
Stage 5 – July 11 – LORIENT > QUIMPER – 203km
Stage 6 – July 12 – BREST > MUR DE BRETAGNE – 181km
Stage 7 – July 13 – FOUGERES > CHARTRES – 231km
Stage 8 – July 14 – DREUX > AMIENS METROPOLE – 181km
Stage 9 – July 15 – ARRAS CITADELLE > ROUBAIX – 154km
REST DAY – JULY 16
Stage 10 – July 17 – ANNECY > LE GRAND-BORNAND – 159km
Stage 11 – July 18 – ALBERTVILLE > LA ROSIERE ESPACE SAN BERNARDO – 108km
Stage 12 – July 19 – BOURG-SAINT-MARICE LES ARCS – ALPE D’HUEZ – 175km
Stage 13 – July 20 – BOURG d’OISANS > VALENCE – 169km
Stage 14 – July 21 – SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX > MENDE – 187km
Stage 15 – July 22 – MILLAU > CARCASSONNE – 181km
REST DAY – JULY 23
Stage 16 – July 24 – CARCASSONNE > BAGNERES-DE-LOUCHON – 218km
Stage 17 – July 25 – BAGNERES-DE-LOUCHON > SAINT-LARY-SOULAN – 65km
Stage 18 – July 26 – TRIE-SUR-BAISE > PAU – 172km
Stage 19 – July 27 – LOURDES > LARUNS – 200km
Stage 20 – July 28 – SAINT-PEE-SUR-NIVELLE > ESPELETTE – 31km
Stage 21 – July 29 – HOUILLES > PARIS, CHAMPS ELYSSEES – 115km
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