TOUR’23 Stage 18: Asgreen Surprises the Sprinters!

Tour Stage Report: The ‘break of the day’ went all the way in which to the end line, however solely simply. Lotto-Dstny had two males within the escape, however it was Soudal-Fast Step’s Kasper Asgreen who took the win in entrance of a thundering peloton. The GC stayed the identical with Jonas Vingegaard in yellow.

The ultimate kilometre of stage 18

Kasper Asgreen gave Soudal Fast-Step a stage victory within the Tour de France. The Dane was within the early break that managed to maintain out of the grasp of the peloton and was the quickest in a dash from the 4. Pascal Eenkhoorn was second, Jonas Abrahamsen third. The inexperienced jersey of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) gained the dash from the peloton.

Stage 18 from Moutiers to Bourg-en-Bresse – Good place to start out a race

Christian Prudhomme on stage 18: “The sprinters may have wanted to point out actual dedication to get by means of the shock of the Tour’s stint within the Alps. They’ll be rewarded with a stage the place the route avoids the hills and will facilitate their return entrance and centre. On the straight remaining kilometre, they’ll be capable to get proper as much as most velocity once more.”

Stage 18 profile

The day began in Moûtiers on the foot of the Alps, however the stage solely had two Cat-4 climbs: the Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut (1.6km at 4.1%) and the Côte de Boissieu (2.4km at 4.7%). This was a chance for the sprinters… or a break? The final kilometre in Bourg-en-Bresse was straight and flat, good for the quick finishers.

The final two days have been very exhausting for Tadej Pogačar

Pogačar remains to be second general and in the most effective younger rider’s white jersey, higher than many within the Tour

KOM, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) – No less than the bike isn’t white with crimson spots

No large struggle to get into the day’s escape. Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Fast-Step), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) rode away from the beginning and instantly had a lead. The three had been allowed to take a 2 minute lead, however quickly Alpecin-Deceuninck, dsm-firmenich and Jayco AlUla lowered the distinction to 1 minute. With Jasper Philipsen, Sam Welsford and Dylan Groenewegen, all these groups had a sprinter prepared for the ultimate motion.

A stage for the inexperienced jersey, Jasper Philipsen?

All eyes are on Jonas Vingegaard

The ‘break of the day’: Jonas Abrahamsen (UNO-X), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Fast-Step)

The stage rolled alongside quietly for a very long time. Simply earlier than the Cat-4 Côte de Boissieu (2.6km at 4.8%), there have been some assaults. Pascal Eenkhoorn tried to get away, however Jasper Philipsen didn’t approve. The inexperienced jersey neutralised the Dutchman’s assault and nearly rode Eenkhoorn off the highway. Eenkhoorn rode within the peloton once more, however quickly after he attacked once more and received away this time.

A properly lit tunnel

No extra large climbs till Saturday

Alpecin-Deceunick had been controlling the peloton

The lead of the entrance riders had been lowered additional. With the assistance of Campenaerts, who dropped again, Eenkhoorn managed to make the crossing. We now had 4 riders off the entrance. By the intermediate dash in Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, Philipsen got here by means of first within the peloton, giving himself extra factors within the ‘battle’ for the inexperienced.

Don’t suppose we now have had any horse biking followers but this Tour

Victor Campenaerts has been in a number of break within the Tour, however nothing has come of them

A really French tree lined avenue

The distinction between the peloton and the 4 in entrance has in the meantime elevated once more to 1 minute and twenty seconds. The sprinter groups needed to get to work. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Jayco AlUla and Staff dsm-firmenich now obtained the assistance of BORA-hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek, which had speedy outcomes. The lead of the 4 attackers was lowered to forty seconds with twenty-five kilometres left.

It wasn’t an excellent quick stage, however was it heading in direction of a dash end?

Now that appears like an attention-grabbing bar

After some assist from his Lotto-Dstny teammate, Victor Campenaerts, Pascal Eenkhoorn joined the break

The distinction between the peloton and the 4 had elevated to 1:20. The sprinter’s groups needed to work exhausting. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Jayco AlUla and dsm-firmenich now obtained the assistance of BORA-hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek, this had speedy impact. The lead of the 4 was lowered to 40 seconds with 25 kilometres to go.

Now the break was 4

Jayco-AlUla and DSM began to assist the chase

With 10 kilometres to go, the hole was held at 20 seconds for some time, partly because of the disruption of Soudal Fast-Step within the peloton. Julian Alaphilippe and Tim Declerq helped to separate the pursuit. Within the final kilometres the peloton got here nearer and nearer, however ultimately it was simply too late. The 4 escapees would dash for the victory. Properly, solely three, as Campenaerts rode himself utterly empty for Eenkhoorn within the remaining kilometre.

Lidl-Trek additionally got here to the fore

Campenaerts buried himself within the remaining kilometres

The Dutchman couldn’t end the job. He was on Asgreen’s wheel, however couldn’t come around the Dane. It was Asgreen who took the win. Eenkhoorn was second, Abrahamsen third. Jasper Philipsen sprinted to 4th place, forward of Mads Pedersen and Cees Bol. All of the GC males completed within the peloton, so there was no change on the general.

Patrick Lefevere will probably be comfortable – Kasper Asgreen took a artful win

Stage winner, Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Fast-Step): “Clearly the scenario of our breakaway was not splendid. I might have most popular to interrupt with 7 or 8 riders. It’s additionally one of many remaining levels of Tour after actually exhausting weeks. But we now have seen small breaks making it to the end towards the bunch… so I didn’t rule out the opportunity of profitable. It’s been a workforce time trial all day lengthy. My breakaway companions had been simply glorious on the market. All of us deserved to win due to how a lot work we put into the break. I’m comfortable to get away with it. It means a lot with the interval I had this yr since I crashed at Tour de Suisse. I’ve come a great distance, and to cap it off with a victory like that is superb. I dedicate it to all of the individuals who helped me by means of this tough time, and likewise to my team-mate Dries Devenyns in his final Tour and his final season.”

A stage win to avoid wasting the Tour for Soudal Fast-Step

General chief, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): “I used to be feeling nice in the present day. That is the most effective time trial I’ve ever finished. I’m happy with what I’ve finished in the present day, and I’m very comfortable about my victory. To be sincere, I stunned myself with the time trial I did. I didn’t count on to take action properly. We had break up the ITT in 4 components. I attempted to go exhausting within the first climb, then get better within the downhill, maintain again within the flat part, and go full gasoline within the quick climb whereas nonetheless maintaining one thing for the ultimate kilometres. I simply had an unimaginable day. We had a pacing technique and, even once I was attributable to save power, I used to be above the anticipated watt output. I haven’t gained the Tour de France but. There are some exhausting days to return, and I feel the race isn’t over. I nonetheless need to do every thing I can to maintain the yellow jersey. The workforce has been superb thus far. I wish to thank them. Every thing we’re doing on this Tour de France is a part of a much bigger plan that we’re executing daily.”

A relaxation day for the GC males

# Preserve it PEZ for the ultimate Tour weekend. #

Tour de France Stage 18 End result:
1. Kasper Asgreen (Den) Soudal Fast-Step in 4:06:48
2. Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Lotto Dstny
3. Jonas Abrahamsen (Nor) Uno-X
4. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
6. Cees Bol (Ned) Astana Qazaqstan
7. Jordi Meeus (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe
8. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Staff Emirates
9. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma
10. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Arkéa Samsic.

Tour de France General After Stage 18:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 72:04:39
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates at 7:35
3. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Staff Emirates at 10:45
4. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 12:01
5. Simon Yates (GB) Jayco AlUla at 12:19
6. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious at 12:50
7. Jai Hindley (Aus) BORA-hansgrohe at 13:50
8. Felix Gall (Aust) AG2R Citroën at 16:11
9. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma at 16:49
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 17:57.