Plain Stage
Fri, July 23 —starts at 12:55 local time

About Stage 18
By Chris Brewer
Today is a great chance for a successful escape to win the day.  By now many riders are over one hour down in the overall standings, and if the right group can get down the road the race leaders will be content to have a “day off on the bike” and let them have their due.  But if it’s riders closer on GC, or the sprint jersey is still up for grabs, it could once again be a thundering herd riding into Bordeaux.




About Salies-de-Béarn
This is the first time since 1939 that Salies-de-Béarn has been a stage town for the Tour. Located in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques area of southwestern France, the town derives its name from a unique salt water deposit, supposedly discovered when an injured boar fell into it and was found later completely preserved. Salies-de-Béarn is situated on the Saleys River, and its central Place du Bayaa was built like a snail’s shell around the salt water area.

Visitors to the town are attracted to it for its thermal spas, water sports, walking areas, fishing, gastronomy and sightseeing. Two notable locations are the Hotel du Parc, a structure created in the 19th century and houses a casino, and the 16th century Chateau Saint-Pé, a castle near the Town Hall where trials were held for witchcraft.

About Bordeaux
This is the 80th year Bordeaux—the second most frequented city of the race—has acted as a stage town for the Tour. Located on the Garonne River in the southwest of France, Bordeaux is the capital of the Aquitaine region. It is considered a UNESCO world heritage site and attracts close to 3 million visitors per year. This is for many reasons, including its national opera, seven museums, fountains, eight libraries, fine arts school and industrial research sectors.

Bordeaux is also known for its extraordinary architecture, some of which dates back to the 11th century. The city has more than 350 buildings listed as historic monuments, three of which are religious World Heritage buildings. Visitors should make sure to check out the Saint-André cathedral, dedicated by Pope Urban II in 1096, and the Place de la Bourse, built for Louis XV.

-- City descriptions written by Rachel Horn