Tough challenges expected for Tour de France 2018

World
Europe

Rigid challenges were expected to arrive in Tour de France 2018, scheduled in July, following the unveiling of the tournament's route at the Palais de Congres convention center in Paris on Tuesday.

The 105th edition will run from July 7 until 29, 2018, with 21 stages covering a total distance of 3,329 kilometers, ranked among the shortest of the 21st century.

Departing from Noirmoutier-en-L'Ile of the Vendee department, 176 riders, reduced from this year's 198, will move to northern France and have to tackle the cobblestones over a distance of 21.7 kilometers.

A map of the itinerary of the 2018 Tour de France cycling race. /Reuters Photo

"The race will be hard, especially with the cobbles," said defending champion Christopher Froome in prospect for a record-equaling fifth overall title in world's most prestigious road cycling tournament.

The 2018 tour will feature on the first mountain stage in the Alps – the col des Glieres, a six-kilometer climb at an average gradient of 11 percent on narrow roads ending on a plateau, which the peloton will go through on a 1.8-kilometer gravel path.

"It will be interesting from a sporting point of view, but also from a historical point of view," said race director Christian Prudhomme.

The plateau des Glieres features the national monument of the Resistance as the limestone plateau was used by Maquis group of resistance fighters during World War Two.

The race in 2018 saw a reduction in long-distance time trials while emphasizing a diversity of the route, which calls for riders' boldness.

"We especially wanted to emphasize stage variety and the route that may prove decisive, while combining legendary climbs with brand new ascensions or ultra dynamic formats, to provide a vision of modern and inspired cycling," he said.

Tour de France 2017 winner Chris Froome of Britain at a news conference in Paris, France, October 17, 2017. /Reuters Photo

On the unveiling ceremony, Froome was presented with the Velo d'Or (Golden Bicycle) trophy, an award initiated by the French cycling magazine Velo and voted by a jury of 18 international journalists.

This was the third time for the British rider to have taken away the laurel in his career after 2013 and 2015.

8227km

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency