Watch Tour de France Stage 18 LIVE: Queen Stage, watch free from abroad, TV channels, updates
Featuring three super-category climbs, Stage 18 of the Tour de France promises to be one for the ages. Here's how to watch the action anywhere around the world at no cost
Stage 18 of the 2025 Tour de France is here. The infamous Queen Stage heads from Vif to the Col de la Loze and the French Alps will have a lot to say on how that General Classification ends up.
So far, Tadej Pogacar has controlled the Tour exquisitely. Two stunning time-trials and a flying ascent of the Hautacam have given him 4:15 lead over Jonas Vingegaard. Will this be a victory parade for the Slovenian or can the Dane crack his rival like he did on the Loze in 2023?
British residents will be able to stream all the action free on ITVX from 11 am BST. But can you watch free in France, Canada and USA? Yes – withNordVPN (try it risk free).
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Welcome to Tour de France Stage 18 (Queen Stage)
(Image credit: Photo by Bernard Papon - Pool/Getty Images)
Hello and welcome to TechRadar's live coverage of the Queen Stage at the 2025 Tour de France.
Wanting to watch the action? We'll show you the best streams right here and how British and Australian residents can watch Stage 18 for FREE.
Tour de France General Classification Standings
As ever, the Queen Stage is expected to throw up some changes in the GC race. Can Tadej Pogacar secure the Yellow Jersey will be the big question of today.
The Queen Stage of the Tour de France refers to the most challenging leg of the three-week race — typically the one with the most brutal climbs and highest elevation gain.
This stage is usually held in the French Alps and is designed to push the riders to their absolute limits. For this year's race, Stage 18 holds that honour, featuring three hors catégorie (beyond category) climbs and a staggering vertical gain of 5,450 metres.
The Stage concludes at the summit of the Col de la Loze, a climb that became iconic in 2023 for the scene of Tadej Pogacar's "I'm gone, I'm dead" moment when Jonas Vingegaard cracked him in the race for the Yellow Jersey.
Last time on the Col de la Loze - Tadej Pogacar cracks
Just under 30 minutes until we get underway, here is a look at the Stage 18 profile.
How can I watch Stage 18 for free?
The Tour de France has great free streams to get stuck into and some even include English commentary!
🇬🇧 British cycling fans can watch Stage 18 on ITV4 via ITVX. The platform is completely free and all you need to do is sign up to watch. 🇦🇺 It is a similar situation for Australians. SBS On Demand are streaming Stage 18 for free and you can even watch the full day replay if you miss the action.
But what if I'm outside these countries? Fear not, Australian and British residents visiting the US or somewhere else can access their free TdF streams by using NordVPN.
Stage 18 — Underway
And we're off... for what will be a nightmarish day on the saddle!
167km to go
Lidl-Trek setting the pace early on and possibly turning this into a 150km race rather than a 171.5km race with a lead out to the intermediate sprint.
152km to go
Visma–Lease a Bike appear to be preparing a number of their riders to feature in the breakaway once we reach the intermediate sprint. Many of them are featuring in the top 15-20 riders so far.
136km to go — Wellens leading
Not too much action so far. Tim Wellens (Team UAE) leads the race and Wout van Aert (Visma) has now made it across with Kaden Groves and a few others.
We are almost at the first big climb of the day — the Col du Glandon.
120km to go — Roglic in the breakaway
Still 10.9km to go in this stage and the big news is that Primoz Roglic is in this front group. They currently hold a 1:13 advantage over the peloton.
86km to go
Leading the way now is Matteo Jorgenson and Thymen Arensman as they begin the ascent of the Col de la Madeleine.
79km to go
Visma-Lease a bike are now pacing the peloton! Is an attack on the Madeleine approaching from Jonas Vingegaard?
75.5km to go
Victor Campenaerts is driving this group forward and they are taking time back on Roglic's leading group.
And Visma-Lease a bike have the Yellow Jersey isolated, Pogacar will have to go alone here.
71.5km to go
Vingegaard goes! Pogacar goes with him and Jorgenson will be looking to help his team leader when he gets to him.
71km to go
And they quickly arrive at the front group, this is a 71km head-to-head between Pogacar and Vingegaard.
67km to go - Col de la Madeleine completed
So, Jorgensen will lead this front group over the climb which currently includes riders like Felix Gall, Primoz Roglic, Ben O'Connor and of course Vingegaard and Pogacar.
Meanwhile, we have Florian Lipowitz (3rd in GC) 30 seconds behind.
What a race this has been so far!
54km to go
Heavy pace being set on this downhill as Visma look to keep the pressure on Pogacar — will he crack?
37km to go
Jorgensen, O'Connor and Rubio have all broken off the front again and left a gap of 55 seconds to the Yellow Jersey group.
This could play into Vingegaard's hands.
29km to go
Felix Gall attacks in the Yellow Jersey group and only Pogacar and Vingegaard can follow for now. Roglic quickly rejoins though.
25km to go — The Col de la Loze arrives (STREAM NOW)
The Col de la Loze has begun with Jorgensen, O'Connor and Rubio at the front.
British cycling fans can watch Stage 18 on ITV4 via ITVX.
But what if I'm outside the UK? Fear not, British residents visiting the US or somewhere else can access their free TdF streams by using NordVPN.
25km to go
The peloton rejoin with Pogacar and Vingegaard as Team Picnic–PostNL bring Oscar Onley back to the fore.
Team UAE and Visma both have riders in this group as well.
What a climb we are in for here!
20km to go
The pace is beginning to lift in the peloton, but Lipowitz and then O'Connor and Rubio still have an advantage of just over 2 minutes and 3 minutes respectively.
18km to go
Jorgensen is now back with Lipowitz — he will surely be waiting to help Vingegaard.
16km to go — O'Connor and Rubio going well
The front duo are still holding a 3 minute lead over the peloton — a long way to go but they are doing well.
15.8km to go
O'Connor breaks from Rubio, the Australian will be eyeing a second Tour win.
9km to go
This is some ride from O'Connor, that gap has grown slightly to 3:20 back to the Yellow Jersey group.
Florian Lipowitz is about to be caught by the GC contenders as well.
8km to go
When will Vingegaard attack? If he is going to go for Yellow, he will need to push Pogacar soon.
5km to go
Every kilometre that passes will provide encouragement to O'Connor. That time gap is stabilised around 3:15.
In the Yellow Jersey group, Pogacar now seems in control with Adam Yates leading him up the climb
4.7km to go — Lipowitz dropped
Oscar Onley has a real chance of clawing time back here. Lipowitz has been dropped from that Yellow Jersey group while the Scot holds on to the wheel of Vingegaard.
3.5km to go
It's a race against time for O'Connor — the time gap is under 3 minute
2.5km to go
This is surely Ben O'Connor's race — a ride for the ages!
1.5km to go
Pogacar seems happy to secure his Yellow Jersey in normal GC fashion — a defensive but smart ride from the Slovenian.
1km to go
One more kilometre of pain for O'Connor before he can celebrate a memorable win.
Vingegaard attacks! Onley and Pogacar follow!
Finally Vingegaard goes and Pogacar and Oscar Onley follow! Amazing from Onley to keep up with these two icons.
Ben O'Connor wins!
The best moment of his career — what a win from the Australian!
Pogacar flies home for 2nd!
Pogacar flies home for second, brilliant as ever from the Slovenian. That is the Yellow Jersey surely!
And, Vingegaard comes 3rd and an incredible ride from Onley to come 4th — will he be getting the white jersey tonigth?
Lipowitz holds on
The German will hold Onley off by about 30 seconds
Missed any of the action? Watch the final km's on YouTube
