Bradley Wiggins may have convinced himself he has the Tour de France all but locked up, but Stage 18 might have something to say about that. The trip from Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde is 222.5 kilometers very long, the second longest stage of the entire tour. It is also built to be an exciting one, as this map shows its topography.
There is plenty of level ground here for the sprinters to excel, but the real question is who will have the energy left in their tired legs to take the stage as the tour leaves the mountains behind it as it descends towards Paris. 14 teams are still without a victory so there is plenty of individual bragging rights left on the table.
Coverage of the 2012 Tour De France can be found on NBC Sports Network starting around 5 a.m. PT. You should also have the opportunity to watch it online via a subscription with NBC Sports.
Stay with the SB Nation Bay Area StoryStream for the latest breaking news, results and more from the 2012 Tour de France. For cycling news throughout the year, check out Podium Cafe.