Tour de France: Stage 18

Round up of reactions from the movers and shakers after Warren Barguil won the stage and Froome withstood the attacks from Bardet

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Tour de France: Stage 18

KoM leader Warren Barguil claimed his second stage victory and the fifth for French riders at Col d’Izoard (2360m) after passing Darwin Atapuma on Colombia’s national day. Chris Froome retained the yellow jersey albeit losing four seconds onto Romain Bardet who is again the runner up.

169 riders started stage 18 in Briançon and from them, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) and Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Oscaro) rode away after 5km of racing.

They were rejoined nine kilometers further by 50 others to make it a group of 54: Jan Bakelants and Cyril Gautier (AG2R-La Mondiale), Carlos Betancur and Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), De Marchi, Amaël Moinard and Nicolas Roche (BMC), Andrei Grivko, Bakhtiar Kozhatayev, Alexei Lutsenko and Michael Valgren (Astana), Darwin Atapuma, Kristjian Durasek, Marco Marcato, Ben Swift and Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), Rudy Molard (FDJ), Daryl Impey (Orica), Stephen Cummings, Serge Pauwels and Jaco Venter (Dimension Data), Gianluca Brambilla and Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors), Robert Kiserlovski, Maurits Lammertink, Tiago Machado and Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tiejs Benoot, De Gendt, Tony Gallopin and Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Soudal), Simon Geschke (Sunweb), Dimitri Claeys, Nicolas Edet and Dani Navarro (Cofidis), Thomas Voeckler, Calmejane, Sylvain Chavanel, Romain Sicard and Angelo Tulik (Direct Energie), Pierre Rolland, Simon Clarke and Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac), Sonny Colbrelli and Tsgabu Grmay (Bahrain-Merida), Guillaume Martin, Marco Minnaard and Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Brice Feillu, Gesbert, Romain Hardy, Eduardo Sepulveda and Florian Vachon (Fortuneo-Oscaro).

After the côte des Demoiselles Coiffées (km 60) that gave De Gendt the occasion to score two more KOM points, seven riders rode away: Britain’s Ben Swift, Pauwels, Brambilla, Clarke, Vachon, Chavanel and Tulik. They were reeled in before the intermediate sprint won by Colbrelli at km 91 where a maximum time difference was recorded of 8 minutes 15. Bora-Hansgrohe took over from Team Sky in the lead of the peloton and then it was the turn of AG2R-La Mondiale to bring the deficit down to 6.15 atop the col de Vars where Lutsenko, Atapuma and Sicard composed a leading quartet.

They were reinforced with 28km to go by Edet, Navarro, Grmay and Hardy, and later by Molard and Ulissi. Lutsenko and Edet forged on with 20km to go while AG2R-La Mondiale was pulling the bunch with a deficit of 4.50. Lutsenko rode away solo with 15km as the ascent to col d’Izoard was starting.

Six kilometres before the summit, Atapuma passed Lutsenko while Warren Barguil (Sunweb) and Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) attacked from the yellow jersey group. Barguil continued chasing on his own after dropped Contador.

With 1.5km to go, Barguil caught Atapuma and rode him off his wheel as well to take his revenge from the 2016 Tour de Suisse when he finished second to the Colombian on a stage. Barguil soloed to the most beautiful victory of his career at the col d’Izoard, wearing the polka dot jersey that he already mathematically secured at col de Vars.

Behind him, fighting for the yellow jersey, Dan Martin first had several goes at getting away and clawing some time back before Romain Bardet also attacked under the 3km to go banner. Chris Froome countered him chasing his teammate Landa who was also up the road. With Rigoberto Uran in tow, Froome and Bardet joined Landa and they all sprinted for the final bonus (third place) behind Barguil and Atapuma.

Despite a fast finishing Froome, Bardet held on and put a few seconds between himself and Uran. Bardet is second place overall, 23 seconds down on Froome and six seconds ahead of Uran while Fabio Aru dropped to fifth with three stages to go including the individual time trial in Marseille on the penultimate day.

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Reactions

Warren Barguil: “It’s hard to realize. I attacked because I wanted to gain one spot on CG by passing Alberto Contador. I kept going when I dropped him off but I wasn’t sure how many riders were still at the front. When I caught Tony Gallopin I thought he was the last one, then I found out that Atapuma was ahead. It came back to my mind that I didn’t manage to beat him at the Tour de Suisse last year, so I wanted to take my revenge. To win here is exceptional. Firstly I want to enjoy the polka dot jersey in Paris and I’ll come back to the Tour de France to fight for GC.”

Chris Froome: “For sure it would have been amazing to have won on the most iconic climb of the race but my goal is the yellow jersey. If I reach Paris in yellow, I’ll have no regret, even if I don’t have a stage win. The hardest part of the Tour is behind now. We passed the Pyrenees and now the Alps. Rigo [berto Uran] is definitely my biggest threat. From the GC riders he’s the next strongest time trialist and he’s only 29 seconds down. I imagine he’ll be the guy to look at for in Marseille.”

Dan Martin “I tried to keep the pressure on Aru, who was suffering. I also wanted to see if I can distance Froome and managed to open a gap, before he came back. I found it strange that no one else attacked, it look like they wanted to protect their places in the GC, but that was their decision. From my part, I gave everything I had and I am happy and proud to be here ahead of the final weekend, it’s quite the performance considering my first week crash and the fact many of our guys had to abandon through illness.”

Simon Yates: “I had better legs today than yesterday and I didn’t lose much time so I think it was a good day,” Yates said. “I tried to do my own ride and my own rhythm and tackle the climb like this. I gave it everything so I have to be happy.”

“I was a little bit off that top group of riders on the final climb, I think it has been that way this whole Tour, but I am still happy with where I am at and how I have been riding. You can never think you have won something until the job is complete,” Yates said when asked if he had the white jersey sewn up. “We still have some hard stages to go, including the time trial, so you can never be sure until we get to Paris. I’m in a good position. We need to be careful but I feel more confident now we have got through today.”

Romain Bardet: “I gave it my all. I thought I was going to choke on the line. I made it on mental strength. We put our stamp on the race, we played a major role. I gave it my all, I knew the ascent well, I knew that beyond 2,000 metres, with all my efforts, it was going to hurt. It would have been ideal to make it back on Warren. But it was a super victory for him, amply deserved. In the years to come, several Frenchmen will go for victory in the Tour. I played it cute, I tried to make believe I was not super. I made my move shortly before the descent. I risked evereything. I have nothing to regret. Now we have the time trial but the Tour is already a success. We confirmed what we did last year, we went a step further.”

Darwin Atapuma: “Today we did a great work with the team. We gave it all. We’ve tried to win this stage. But it’s a second place at the end that has the same meaning as a stage win for me. I was racing flat out knowing that the whole Colombia was paralyzed today with everyone watching the Tour and having a huge party for our national day.”

Alberto Contador: “Today my sensations were very bad during the whole day, probably due to yesterday’s efforts,” said Contador. “I knew that everybody would be tired at the end, and that happened, but it was a pity to not have the same legs of yesterday. I paid for that effort. Barguil is a rider that makes many changes of pace, and for that I preferred to be with Bauke as much as possible, but the truth is that he is finishing the Tour very, very strong. Congrats to him,” he added.

“It’s true that I haven’t done the Tour I wanted, and for me maybe has been the worst Tour when speaking about victories, but not about satisfaction. Yesterday the public gave to me so much support and love, with this attack from far away, and I know the sponsors want victories, but also this gives publicity. Yesterday everybody enjoyed cycling, and I’m proud to be part of that,” he said.

Bauke Mollema: Mollema joined the gigantic breakaway that escaped shortly after the start of the 179-kilometer stage 18 and rode through the constant attacks that split apart the break numerous times, until finally, a group of 10 escaped in the valley ahead of the Izoard. “I wanted to be in the break today, and the group was a bit bigger than expected, but there weren’t any guys there that were a big threat to Froome or the GC guys,” said Mollema. “At the beginning, we worked really well together, but after a while, in a big group like this, people start attacking and then it was a big mess. Always groups in front, always riders attacking, and groups coming back.

“Then, in the end, it was a pity that those 10 guys got away and they started the last climb with over a minute in front of my group. I just tried to do a good last climb, and I passed a lot of guys. And then in one moment, Contador came to me with (Warren) Barguil, and I did a good pull for him, maybe one or two kilometers. After that, it was more or less over for me. It was good to ride a Tour in a different way, to go for breakaways compared to riding for the GC – less stressful for sure. It was a good experience.”

Nairo Quintana: “Without the legs you’d want to have, it’s impossible to get the result you were aspiring to reach. We just rode at the front up until we could. Obviously, this is not how I’d like to feel. It’s difficult to put my physical status into words at the moment. The only thing I know is that we put all strength and courage we had to reach the top. As I said yesterday and during the last week, our goal – once we saw things were like this – was just to get to Paris in one piece, and we’re closer now. We know things haven’t turned out well for us, but on the other hand, our gamble was quite risky, and we didn’t know how things would play out. These are the results – next year I’m sure things will be different.”

Fabio Aru: “Since the stage I’ve got the yellow jersey, I live some tough moments because of the illness. Anyway, I tried my best to keep on fighting and today I just gave my 100%. With all this I could be happy with the way I did this stage and with the fact I am still high in the classification. Despite the illness, I don’t give up here at the Tour de France, – said Fabio Aru.

STAGE 18
1 Barguil Warren Team Sunweb 04h 40′ 33”
2 Atapuma John Darwin Uae Team Emirates @ 00′ 20”
3 Bardet Romain Ag2r La Mondiale @ 00′ 20”
4 Froome Christopher Team Sky @ 00′ 20”
5 Uran Rigoberto Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 00′ 22”
6 Landa Mikel Team Sky @ 00′ 32”
7 Meintjes Louis Uae Team Emirates @ 00′ 37”
8 Martin Daniel Quick – Step Floors @ 00′ 39”
9 Yates Simon Orica – Scott @ 00′ 59”
10 Contador Alberto Trek – Segafredo @ 01′ 09”
11 Quintana Nairo Movistar Team @ 01′ 18′‘
12 Betancur Carlos Alberto Movistar Team @ 01’ 22”
13 Aru Fabio Astana Pro Team @ 01′ 22”
14 Gallopin Tony Lotto Soudal @ 01′ 37”
15 Feillu Brice Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 01′ 54”
16 Nieve Mikel Team Sky @ 02′ 15”
17 Lutsenko Alexey Astana Pro Team @ 02′ 54”
18 Talansky Andrew Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 03′ 01”
19 Mollema Bauke Trek – Segafredo @ 03′ 01”
20 Pauwels Serge Team Dimension Data @ 03′ 04”
21 Vuillermoz Alexis Ag2r La Mondiale @ 03′ 17”
22 Benoot Tiesj Lotto Soudal @ 03′ 23”
23 Minnaard Marco Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 03′ 34”
24 Kozhatayev Bakhtiyar Astana Pro Team @ 03′ 49”
25 Navarro Daniel Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 03′ 54”
26 Hardy Romain Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 03′ 54”
27 Caruso Damiano Bmc Racing Team @ 03′ 58”
28 Kreuziger Roman Orica – Scott @ 04′ 08”
29 Bakelants Jan Ag2r La Mondiale @ 04′ 13”
30 Moinard Amaël Bmc Racing Team @ 04′ 15”
31 Buchmann Emanuel Bora – Hansgrohe @ 04′ 15”
32 Molard Rudy Fdj @ 04′ 40”
33 Roche Nicolas Bmc Racing Team @ 04′ 59”
34 Brambilla Gianluca Quick – Step Floors @ 06′ 21”
35 Sepulveda Eduardo Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 06′ 41”
36 Impey Daryl Orica – Scott @ 06′ 41”
37 Kiserlovski Robert Team Katusha Alpecin @ 06′ 41”
38 Frank Mathias Ag2r La Mondiale @ 06′ 41”
39 Rolland Pierre Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 06′ 41”
40 Martin Guillaume Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 07′ 20”
41 Degand Thomas Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 07′ 41”
42 Henao Sergio Luis Team Sky @ 08′ 12”
43 Brajkovic Janez Bahrain – Merida @ 08′ 30”
44 Grmay Tsgabu Gebremaryam Bahrain – Merida @ 08′ 30”
45 Lammertink Maurits Team Katusha Alpecin @ 08′ 43”
46 Ulissi Diego Uae Team Emirates @ 08′ 48”
47 Geschke Simon Team Sunweb @ 09′ 27”
48 Chavanel Sylvain Direct Energie @ 10′ 34”
49 Voeckler Thomas Direct Energie @ 10′ 34”
50 Durasek Kristijan Uae Team Emirates @ 10′ 46”
51 Sicard Romain Direct Energie @ 10′ 57”
52 Zeits Andrey Astana Pro Team @ 11′ 30”
53 Gastauer Ben Ag2r La Mondiale @ 11′ 37”
54 Pantano Jarlinson Trek – Segafredo @ 12′ 01”
55 Valgren Andersen Michael Astana Pro Team @ 12′ 01”
56 Zubeldia Haimar Trek – Segafredo @ 12′ 01”
57 Ten Dam Laurens Team Sunweb @ 12′ 07”
58 De Gendt Thomas Lotto Soudal @ 12′ 48”
59 Roosen Timo Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 13′ 00”
60 Gautier Cyril Ag2r La Mondiale @ 13′ 40”
61 Stybar Zdenek Quick – Step Floors @ 13′ 41”
62 Kwiatkowski Michal Team Sky @ 13′ 41”
63 Schär Michael Bmc Racing Team @ 13′ 41”
64 Mate Mardones Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 14′ 40”
65 Edet Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 14′ 40”
66 Howson Damien Orica – Scott @ 16′ 10”
67 Clarke Simon Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 16′ 10”
68 Martin Tony Team Katusha Alpecin @ 16′ 39”
69 Roelandts Jurgen Lotto Soudal @ 16′ 52”
70 Domont Axel Ag2r La Mondiale @ 17′ 42”
71 Naesen Oliver Ag2r La Mondiale @ 17′ 42”
72 Pichon Laurent Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 17′ 42”
73 Keukeleire Jens Orica – Scott @ 17′ 42”
74 De Kort Koen Trek – Segafredo @ 17′ 42”
75 Sütterlin Jasha Movistar Team @ 17′ 42”
76 Machado Tiago Team Katusha Alpecin @ 17′ 42”
77 Bak Lars Ytting Lotto Soudal @ 17′ 42”
78 Tulik Angélo Direct Energie @ 17′ 50”
79 Martens Paul Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 18′ 26”
80 Gesbert Elie Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 18′ 26”
81 Bouet Maxime Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 18′ 26”
82 Wyss Danilo Bmc Racing Team @ 18′ 44”
83 Van Avermaet Greg Bmc Racing Team @ 18′ 44”
84 Perichon Pierre-Luc Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 19′ 42”
85 Vachon Florian Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 19′ 42”
86 Gruzdev Dmitriy Astana Pro Team @ 20′ 03”
87 Bono Matteo Uae Team Emirates @ 22′ 19”
88 Chaves Johan Esteban Orica – Scott @ 22′ 19”
89 Brown Nathan Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 22′ 43”
90 Kiryienka Vasili Team Sky @ 23′ 50”
91 Grivko Andriy Astana Pro Team @ 23′ 50”
92 Smith Dion Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 23′ 50”
93 Bauer Jack Quick – Step Floors @ 23′ 50”
94 Swift Ben Uae Team Emirates @ 23′ 50”
95 Cummings Stephen Team Dimension Data @ 23′ 50”
96 Erviti Imanol Movistar Team @ 23′ 50”
97 Van Keirsbulck Guillaume Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 23′ 50”
98 Vanspeybrouck Pieter Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 23′ 50”
99 Amador Andrey Movistar Team @ 23′ 50”
100 Quemeneur Perrig Direct Energie @ 23′ 50”
101 Latour Pierre-Roger Ag2r La Mondiale @ 23′ 50”
102 Calmejane Lilian Direct Energie @ 23′ 50”
103 Herrada Jesús Movistar Team @ 23′ 50”
104 Van Baarle Dylan Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 23′ 50”
105 Arashiro Yukiya Bahrain – Merida @ 23′ 50”
106 Claeys Dimitri Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 24′ 19”
107 Politt Nils Team Katusha Alpecin @ 24′ 19”
108 Marcato Marco Uae Team Emirates @ 25′ 46”
109 Moreno Bazan Javier Bahrain – Merida @ 25′ 46”
110 Cink Ondrej Bahrain – Merida @ 25′ 46”
111 Colbrelli Sonny Bahrain – Merida @ 25′ 48”
112 De Marchi Alessandro Bmc Racing Team @ 26′ 05”
113 Küng Stefan Bmc Racing Team @ 26′ 26”
114 Roglic Primoz Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 26′ 26”
115 Bettiol Alberto Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 27′ 28”
116 Knees Christian Team Sky @ 28′ 33”
117 Sinkeldam Ramon Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
118 Matthews Michael Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
119 Vermote Julien Quick – Step Floors @ 28′ 33”
120 Sabatini Fabio Quick – Step Floors @ 28′ 33”
121 Offredo Yoann Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 28′ 33”
122 Mc Carthy Jay Bora – Hansgrohe @ 28′ 33”
123 Rowe Luke Team Sky @ 28′ 33”
124 Thwaites Scott Team Dimension Data @ 28′ 33”
125 Curvers Roy Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
126 Bole Grega Bahrain – Merida @ 28′ 33”
127 Backaert Frederik Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 28′ 33”
128 Hansen Adam Lotto Soudal @ 28′ 33”
129 Hollenstein Reto Team Katusha Alpecin @ 28′ 33”
130 Bevin Patrick Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 28′ 33”
131 Le Gac Olivier Fdj @ 28′ 33”
132 Wagner Robert Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 28′ 33”
133 Pasqualon Andrea Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 28′ 33”
134 Greipel André Lotto Soudal @ 28′ 33”
135 Janse Van Rensburg Reinardt Team Dimension Data @ 28′ 33”
136 Senechal Florian Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 28′ 33”
137 Albasini Michael Orica – Scott @ 28′ 33”
138 Boasson Hagen Edvald Team Dimension Data @ 28′ 33”
139 Poljanski Pawel Bora – Hansgrohe @ 28′ 33”
140 Selig Rüdiger Bora – Hansgrohe @ 28′ 33”
141 Bodnar Maciej Bora – Hansgrohe @ 28′ 33”
142 Laengen Vegard Stake Uae Team Emirates @ 28′ 33”
143 Groenewegen Dylan Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 28′ 33”
144 Castroviejo Jonathan Movistar Team @ 28′ 33”
145 Leezer Tom Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ 28′ 33”
146 Venter Jacobus Team Dimension Data @ 28′ 33”
147 Hayman Mathew Orica – Scott @ 28′ 33”
148 Phinney Taylor Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 28′ 33”
149 Bennati Daniele Movistar Team @ 28′ 33”
150 Timmer Albert Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
151 Teunissen Mike Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
152 Arndt Nikias Team Sunweb @ 28′ 33”
153 Zabel Rick Team Katusha Alpecin @ 28′ 33”
154 Bozic Borut Bahrain – Merida @ 28′ 33”
155 Gene Yohann Direct Energie @ 29′ 02”
156 Boudat Thomas Direct Energie @ 29′ 18”
157 Irizar Markel Trek – Segafredo @ 29′ 56”
158 Eisel Bernhard Team Dimension Data @ 29′ 56”
159 Degenkolb John Trek – Segafredo @ 29′ 56”
160 Haller Marco Team Katusha Alpecin @ 29′ 56”
161 Gogl Michael Trek – Segafredo @ 29′ 56”
162 Kristoff Alexander Team Katusha Alpecin @ 29′ 56”
163 Petit Adrien Direct Energie @ 29′ 56”
164 Burghardt Marcus Bora – Hansgrohe @ 30′ 43”
165 Cimolai Davide Fdj @ 31′ 40”
166 Simon Julien Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 31′ 53”
167 Bouhanni Nacer Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 31′ 53”
168 Lemoine Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 31′ 53”
169 Laporte Christophe Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 31′ 57”

Overall
1 Froome Christopher Team Sky 78h 08′ 19”
2 Bardet Romain Ag2r La Mondiale @ 00′ 23”
3 Uran Rigoberto Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ 00′ 29”
4 Landa Mikel Team Sky @ 01′ 36”
5 Aru Fabio Astana Pro Team @ 01′ 55”
6 Martin Daniel Quick – Step Floors @ 02′ 56”
7 Yates Simon Orica – Scott @ 04′ 46”
8 Meintjes Louis Uae Team Emirates @ 06′ 52”
9 Barguil Warren Team Sunweb @ 08′ 22”
10 Contador Alberto Trek – Segafredo @ 08′ 34”
11 Caruso Damiano Bmc Racing Team @ 13′ 41”
12 Quintana Nairo Movistar Team @ 13′ 52”
13 Nieve Mikel Team Sky @ 23′ 11”
14 Vuillermoz Alexis Ag2r La Mondiale @ 23′ 33”
15 Buchmann Emanuel Bora – Hansgrohe @ 31′ 01”
16 Feillu Brice Team Fortuneo – Oscaro @ 35′ 06”
17 Betancur Carlos Alberto Movistar Team @ 36′ 25”
18 Pauwels Serge Team Dimension Data @ 37′ 31”
19 Benoot Tiesj Lotto Soudal @ 40′ 49”
20 Mollema Bauke Trek – Segafredo @ 47′ 03”
21 Martin Guillaume Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 50′ 53”
22 Gallopin Tony Lotto Soudal @ 52′ 39”
23 Kreuziger Roman Orica – Scott @ 57′ 45”
24 Bakelants Jan Ag2r La Mondiale @ 01h 00′ 19”
25 Latour Pierre-Roger Ag2r La Mondiale @ 01H 10′ 34”

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