Tour de France – Stage 18

2014_August_Prendas_Bannerr4

Bardet solos to victory on the hardest stage yet say the riders as Froome continues to defy the attacks from rivals

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Tour de France – Stage 18

ASO Press Release
Frenchman Romain Bardet claimed his first stage victory at the Tour de France on stage 18 with a bold attack 40 kilometres from the finish. The rider, who was a pre race favourite but lost a lot of time early on, escaped near the top of col du Glandon and rode away solo on the downhill.

He stayed away for 40 kilometres with an advantage of 40 seconds over his chasers to give France its second stage win, and another for his team AG2R-La Mondiale as well at this year’s Tour de France.

Chris Froome, despite attacks from several of his rivals, was never put into difficulty and kept the yellow jersey with two Alpine stages left.

Romain Bardet: “I’ve respected our plan this morning. I had to make the breakaway and that was the hardest part. In the past few days, we’ve seen big groups going up the road and that’s complicated to deal with. I had to reach the col du Glandon with the smallest group possible.”

“I was keen to attack at the bottom but I knew there would be head wind towards the top so I waited. I’ve raced as if the finishing line was at the top of the Glandon. Clearly in Mende I made a mistake. I didn’t know there was a downhill after the climb. In the evening I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t won”.

“But I never lost the support of my team. That’s how I managed to bounce back. We did it as a team. I had two team-mates with me in the breakaway today. They were a great help. Losing at Mende has made me a winner today”.

THE STAGE
A peloton of 162 riders took the start of stage 18 in Gap. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) was the first in action in the ascent to col Bayard right after the flag off. A front group of 29 riders was formed in the first climb, comprising Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Romain Bardet, Jan Bakelants and Christophe Riblon (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Roman Kreuziger and Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo), Jonathan Castroviejo and Winner Anacona (Movistar), Damiano Caruso and Rohan Dennis (BMC), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Georg Preidler (Giant), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Michael Matthews and Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge), Pierre Rolland, Cyril Gautier, Romain Sicard and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Julian Arredondo and Bob Jungels (Trek), Ruben Plaza (Lampre-Merida), Andrew Talansky, Ryder Hesjedal and Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), Stef Clement (IAM), Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) and Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka).

Rodriguez’ quest of the polka dot jersey
On the hunt for the King of the Mountains competition, Rodriguez crossed the summits first for all the third and second category climbs before the main difficulty of the day, the col du Glandon.

Trek and Giant-Alpecin maintained a steady pace at the head of the peloton as Bardet was threatening Bauke Mollema and Warren Barguil’s ninth and tenth place respectively. The maximum time gap was 5.35 at the foot of col de Malissol (km 68). LottoNL-Jumbo reduced the deficit to just above two minutes at the bottom of the ascent to col du Glandon after an attempt by Thomas De Gendt to anticipate the action of the climbers but it was a move that didn’t stick.

Eleven riders made the difference on the climb; Fuglsang, Bardet, Pinot, Anacona, Caruso, Rodriguez, Rolland, Gautier, Jungels, Talansky and Pauwels. Hesjedal replaced Pinot who got dropped ten kilometers before the summit. Four kilometres before the summit, Rolland accelerated and Bardet and Fuglsang reacted before the Dane crashed into a race motorbike (or the other way round).

Bardet meanwhile forged on and Anacona rejoined him. The Frenchman and the Colombian crested the col du Glandon in that order. In a similar effort that made him a Critérium du Dauphiné stage winner last month on the downhill run off the Col d’Allos, Bardet descended flat out and in the Maurienne valley, the AG2R-La Mondiale rider had 40 seconds lead over the eight chasers.

His lead was 2.40 over the yellow jersey group which had come together on the downhill after Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin), Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling), Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) had gone clear on the uphill. Bardet kept his advantage of 40 seconds at the top of the spectacular Lacets de Montvernier and after its downhill as well he reached Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne with enough of a lead to enjoy his first stage victory at the Tour de France ahead of his compatriot Pierre Rolland.

Chris Froome: “I always had team-mates with me today and they all rode really well. That makes my job a lot easier – when they’re so strong like that. We always had the situation under control today. We’re getting towards the end now, with two short mountain stages left, but it’s still going to be hard. I’m in good shape and happy with how I’m feeling. I was struggling a bit at this point two years ago whereas this time around I’m much more confident. I’ve only got Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde to really look out for now”.

“Tomorrow is a critical stage which such a difficult start in the morning. The Tour is really evolving with so many races within the race with teams going after other jerseys and looking to defend their own GC positions. A lot of riders will want to get in the breakaway but I’m sure we’ll keep hold of things and we’re all want to finish the job off”.

Geraint Thomas: “Things worked out perfect today,” Thomas added after crossing the line. “Once again, our team was really strong and we had good numbers. We didn’t panic when the other teams were attacking. When Contador tried, we knew we didn’t have to react straight away as he’s over six minutes behind Froomey, and that other teams would be worrying about him more than us”.

“We followed the others over the top of the climbs and that last one [Montvernier] was pretty tough with all those hairpins, but it was ideal in the end and we’ve got two mountain stages to go. We’ve been saying this since the start but morale is really good in the team and everyone’s really up for it. Froomey’s in great form so we’re buzzing about that, and it means we can get that little bit extra out of ourselves as well”.

Alejandro Valverde: “I had to close a couple of gaps and was suffering from a bit of flatus, so I had to reduce my speed for a bit and take some air – I knew I would be back into the group after the downhill. I crested really close to them, about 10″ down, got back into the group and everyone could see that everything was alright afterwards, it didn’t go further. It was a really demanding day and we got through it safely; there are two really important still left, short stages yet enormously demanding, and I hope to recover well. We came here to fight for victory with Nairo and if I make the GC podium, it will be fantastic, but I have a clear role and goal and I’ll follow it until the end.”

Nairo Quintana: “Alejandro suffered sort of a small crisis there and we had to ride more cautiously so we could get him back into the group and recovered. We hope tomorrow’s stage will be a good one for us; mountains remaining in this Tour are different and we had to remain a bit more calm today, because no real differences could be made at the finish considering the final profile. It’s really important for me to have Alejandro close – he always helps me out, closing the gaps and with everything. We’ll play our cards differently tomorrow.”

Joaquim Rodriguez: “I’m happy and sad at the same time. I felt good today but the breakaway was hard to control because of the big number of riders in it. My goal was to pass first at the Glandon to take 25 KOM points but it hasn’t been possible. I’ve had to close gaps all the time. I haven’t managed to feed myself as much as I needed. I paid the price. It’s a pity because it was a good day for another stage win. Now my goal will be to score a maximum of points to reach Paris with the polka dot jersey.”

Pierre Rolland: (Second behind Romain Bardet) “It’s more than disappointing, but that’s sport. Honestly I wanted to use the fact that Romain was in front to let the others work by saying it was my friend in the lead. Even if we don’t wear the same outfit, I tried to make the best of it”.

“In the “Lacets”, we took our responsibilities with Cyril Gautier. I don’t have words to describe what he did for me. Cyril was exceptional. And then I gave it my all. On the Glandon, there was a little incident. Fuglsang was hit by a motorbike. That’s the moment Romain chose to attack. I decided to let him go”.

“I was wrong. Second is not first. But I prefer this finish than the one in Mende, when Romain and Thibaut were second and third. I’m glad it was him who won, but I would have liked it better to be me.”

2015_July_Vision_tdf_SM

STAGE 18
1 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE 05h 03′ 40”
2 ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR @ 00′ 33”
3 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Andrew MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 59”
4 JUNGELS Bob TREK FACTORY RACING @ 00′ 59”
5 FUGLSANG Jakob ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 59”
6 PAUWELS Serge MTN-QHUBEKA @ 01′ 01”
7 GAUTIER Cyril TEAM EUROPCAR @ 01′ 50”
8 CARUSO Damiano BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 50”
9 TALANSKY Andrew TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 01′ 55”
10 BARGUIL WARREN TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 03′ 02”
11 GESINK Robert TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 03′ 02”
12 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY @ 03′ 02”
13 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 03′ 02”
14 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY @ 03′ 02”
15 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF-SAXO @ 03′ 02”
16 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING @ 03′ 02”
17 QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOVISTAR TEAM @ 03′ 02”
18 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 03′ 02”
19 SCARPONI Michele ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 03′ 02”
20 SANCHEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 03′ 21”
21 MOLLEMA Bauke TREK FACTORY RACING @ 03′ 21”
22 PLAZA MOLINA Ruben LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 05′ 12”
23 MAJKA Rafal TINKOFF-SAXO @ 05′ 33”
24 KANGERT Tanel ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 06′ 32”
25 CHEREL Mikael AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 06′ 45”
26 KONIG Leopold TEAM SKY @ 06′ 56”
27 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Jacques MTN-QHUBEKA @ 08′ 00”
28 HESJEDAL Ryder TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 08′ 32”
29 CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS Jonathan MOVISTAR TEAM @ 09′ 00”
30 BARTA Jan BORA-ARGON 18 @ 09′ 19”
31 VACHON Florian BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 09′ 19”
32 VOECKLER Thomas TEAM EUROPCAR @ 09′ 19”
33 KREUZIGER Roman TINKOFF-SAXO @ 09′ 22”
34 KRUIJSWIJK Steven TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 11′ 03”
35 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim TEAM KATUSHA @ 14′ 26”
36 BAKELANTS Jan AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 14′ 51”
37 WYSS Danilo BMC RACING TEAM @ 14′ 51”
38 OLIVEIRA Nelson LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 14′ 51”
39 ERICHON Pierre-Luc BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 15′ 41”
40 ROCHE Nicolas TEAM SKY @ 15′ 41”
41 POELS Wouter TEAM SKY @ 15′ 41”
42 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI Gorka MOVISTAR TEAM @ 16′ 05”
43 CLEMENT Stef IAM CYCLING @ 16′ 09”
44 PINOT Thibaut FDJ @ 16′ 12”
45 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 16′ 56”
46 MARTIN Daniel TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 17′ 11”
47 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt MTN-QHUBEKA @ 17′ 28”
48 DE GENDT Thomas LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 18′ 33”
49 OSS Daniel BMC RACING TEAM @ 18′ 44”
50 PREIDLER Georg TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 18′ 44”
51 WYSS Marcel IAM CYCLING @ 18′ 44”
52 TANKINK Bram TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 18′ 44”
53 PORTE Richie TEAM SKY @ 18′ 44”
54 ROGERS Michael TINKOFF-SAXO @ 18′ 44”
55 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA GREENEDGE @ 18′ 44”
56 YATES Simon ORICA GREENEDGE @ 18′ 44”
57 MARTENS Paul TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 18′ 44”
58 SICARD Romain TEAM EUROPCAR @ 18′ 44”
59 SCHÄR Michael BMC RACING TEAM @ 18′ 44”
60 RIBLON Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 18′ 44”
61 PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 18′ 44”
62 ERVITI OLLO Imanol MOVISTAR TEAM @ 18′ 44”
63 WESTRA Lieuwe ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 20′ 57”
64 LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ @ 21′ 48”
65 FEDRIGO Pierrick BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 27′ 28”
66 BRUN Fréderic BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 27′ 28”
67 ROY Jérémy FDJ @ 27′ 28”
68 QUEMENEUR Perrig TEAM EUROPCAR @ 27′ 28”
69 BAK Lars LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 27′ 28”
70 DELAPLACE Anthony BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 27′ 28”
71 HOLLENSTEIN Reto IAM CYCLING @ 27′ 28”
72 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar TREK FACTORY RACING @ 27′ 28”
73 ELMIGER Martin IAM CYCLING @ 27′ 28”
74 RAST Gregory TREK FACTORY RACING @ 27′ 28”
75 GRIVKO Andriy ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 27′ 28”
76 KOREN Kristijan TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 27′ 28”
77 ANDERSEN Michael Valgren TINKOFF-SAXO @ 27′ 28”
78 QUINZIATO Manuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 27′ 28”
79 CARUSO Gianpaolo TEAM KATUSHA @ 27′ 28”
80 KELDERMAN Wilco TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 27′ 28”
81 VANMARCKE Sep TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 27′ 28”
82 GRUZDEV Dmitriy ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 27′ 28”
83 IRIZAR ARRANBURU Markel TREK FACTORY RACING @ 27′ 28”
84 WELLENS Tim LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 27′ 28”
85 DENNIS Rohan BMC RACING TEAM @ 27′ 28”
86 DE KORT Koen TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 27′ 28”
87 HERRADA LOPEZ José MOVISTAR TEAM @ 27′ 28”
88 ROWE Luke TEAM SKY @ 27′ 28”
89 ARREDONDO MORENO Julian TREK FACTORY RACING @ 27′ 28”
90 PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson IAM CYCLING @ 27′ 28”
91 STANNARD Ian TEAM SKY @ 27′ 28”
92 HANSEN Adam LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 30′ 58”
93 VAN BAARLE Dylan TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 30′ 58”
94 BONO Matteo LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 30′ 58”
95 DURASEK Kristijan LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 30′ 58”
96 HUZARSKI Bartosz BORA-ARGON 18 @ 30′ 58”
97 SENECHAL Florian COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 30′ 58”
98 GERARD Arnaud BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 30′ 58”
99 EDET Nicolas COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 30′ 58”
100 YATES Adam ORICA GREENEDGE @ 34′ 32”
101 SERPA SANTANDER José LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 35′ 51”
102 STYBAR Zdenek ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
103 CAVENDISH Mark ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
104 CURVERS Roy TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 35′ 51”
105 CUMMINGS Stephen MTN-QHUBEKA @ 35′ 51”
106 VERMOTE Julien ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
107 DEGENKOLB John TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 35′ 51”
108 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM CYCLING @ 35′ 51”
109 POZZATO Filippo LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 35′ 51”
110 TIMMER Albert TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 35′ 51”
111 VUILLERMOZ Alexis AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 35′ 51”
112 GOLAS Michal ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
113 GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ @ 35′ 51”
114 VAUGRENARD Benoît FDJ @ 35′ 51”
115 VOSS Paul BORA-ARGON 18 @ 35′ 51”
116 VALLS FERRI Rafael LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 35′ 51”
117 TRENTIN Matteo ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
118 SIMON Julien COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 35′ 51”
119 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 35′ 51”
120 KUDUS GHEBREMEDHIN Merhawi MTN-QHUBEKA @ 35′ 51”
121 MACHADO Tiago TEAM KATUSHA @ 35′ 51”
122 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald MTN-QHUBEKA @ 35′ 51”
123 GREIPEL André LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 35′ 51”
124 FONSECA Armindo BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 35′ 51”
125 ATOSATTO Matteo TINKOFF-SAXO @ 35′ 51”
126 MALORI Adriano MOVISTAR TEAM @ 35′ 51”
127 GALLOPIN Tony LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 35′ 51”
128 NAULLEAU BRYAN TEAM EUROPCAR @ 35′ 51”
129 TEKLEHAIMANOT Daniel MTN-QHUBEKA @ 35′ 51”
130 TULIK ANGÉLO TEAM EUROPCAR @ 35′ 51”
131 GUARNIERI Jacopo TEAM KATUSHA @ 35′ 51”
132 WEENING Pieter ORICA GREENEDGE @ 35′ 51”
133 LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto TEAM KATUSHA @ 35′ 51”
134 URAN URAN Rigoberto ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 35′ 51”
135 SOUPE GEOFFREY COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 35′ 51”
136 LAPORTE Christophe COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 35′ 51”
137 SAGAN Peter TINKOFF-SAXO @ 35′ 51”
138 BUCHMANN Emanuel BORA-ARGON 18 @ 35′ 51”
139 CIMOLAI Davide LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 35′ 51”
140 PIMANTA COSTA MENDES José Joao BORA-ARGON 18 @ 35′ 51”
141 SIEBERG Marcel LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 35′ 51”
142 CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ @ 35′ 51”
143 FEILLU Brice BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 35′ 51”
144 GENE Yohann TEAM EUROPCAR @ 35′ 51”
145 HALLER Marco TEAM KATUSHA @ 35′ 51”
146 TUFT Svein ORICA GREENEDGE @ 35′ 51”
147 VANBILSEN KENNETH COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 35′ 51”
148 DURBRIDGE Luke ORICA GREENEDGE @ 35′ 51”
149 DEVOLDER Stijn TREK FACTORY RACING @ 35′ 51”
150 NAVARRO GARCIA Daniel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 35′ 51”
151 TEN DAM Laurens TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 35′ 51”
152 DEBUSSCHERE Jens LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 35′ 51”
153 FARRAR Tyler MTN-QHUBEKA @ 35′ 51”
154 GESCHKE Simon TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 35′ 51”
155 VAN EMDEN Jos TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 35′ 51”
156 LEEZER Thomas TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 35′ 51”
157 KRISTOFF Alexander TEAM KATUSHA @ 35′ 51”
158 DEMARE Arnaud FDJ @ 35′ 51”
159 BRÄNDLE Matthias IAM CYCLING @ 35′ 51”
160 COQUARD Bryan TEAM EUROPCAR @ 35′ 51”
161 GAUDIN Damien AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 35′ 51”

OVERALL
1 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY 74h 13′ 31”
2 QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOVISTAR TEAM @ 03′ 10”
3 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 04′ 09”
4 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY @ 06′ 34”
5 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF-SAXO @ 06′ 40”
6 GESINK Robert TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 07′ 39”
7 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 08′ 04”
8 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING @ 08′ 47”
9 MOLLEMA Bauke TREK FACTORY RACING @ 12′ 06”
10 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 12′ 52”
11 BARGUIL WARREN TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 13′ 08”
12 TALANSKY Andrew TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 15′ 18”
13 ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR @ 16′ 02”
14 PAUWELS Serge MTN-QHUBEKA @ 18′ 06”
15 SANCHEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 18′ 11”

Yellow: Froome
Green: Sagan
White: Quintana
Mountains: Joachim Rodriguez (equal on points with Bardet)

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