22-07-2022, 08:24
Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard is one step closer to winning the 2022 Tour de France after he extended his overall lead with a stunning stage 18 victory.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished second, one minute and four seconds behind, after being dropped on the final climb on the Hautacam.
In a brilliant act of sportsmanship earlier in the race, Vingegaard, 25, waited for and shook hands with Pogacar after the Slovenian rider crashed.
He leads overall by three mins 26 secs.
"It's incredible," Vingegaard said. "This morning I said to my girlfriend and my daughter I wanted to win for them and I did. I'm really happy and proud. This one is for my two girls at home."
He added: "I was just happy that it finally ended. It was incredibly hard. Of course I am incredibly happy that I won the stage.
"There are two more days to come until we are in Paris and we must stay focused."
Stage 18 results
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 3hrs 59mins 50secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +1:04
3. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) +2:10
4. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2:54
5. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +2:58
6. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz/Astana-Qazaqstan Team) +3:09
7. Daniel Martinez (Col/INEOS Grenadiers) same time
8. Sepp Kuss (US/Jumbo-Visma) +3:27
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) +4:04
10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +4:09
General classification after stage 18
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 71hrs 53mins 34secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +3:26
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +8:00
4. David Gaudu (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) +11:05
5. Nairo Quintana (Col/Team Arkea-Samsic) +13:25
6. Louis Meintjes (RSA/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +13:43
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - hansgrohe) +14:10
8. Romain Bardet (Fra/Team DSM) +16:11
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz/Astana-Qazaqstan Team) +20:09
10. Adam Yates (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +20:17
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished second, one minute and four seconds behind, after being dropped on the final climb on the Hautacam.
In a brilliant act of sportsmanship earlier in the race, Vingegaard, 25, waited for and shook hands with Pogacar after the Slovenian rider crashed.
He leads overall by three mins 26 secs.
"It's incredible," Vingegaard said. "This morning I said to my girlfriend and my daughter I wanted to win for them and I did. I'm really happy and proud. This one is for my two girls at home."
He added: "I was just happy that it finally ended. It was incredibly hard. Of course I am incredibly happy that I won the stage.
"There are two more days to come until we are in Paris and we must stay focused."
Stage 18 results
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 3hrs 59mins 50secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +1:04
3. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) +2:10
4. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2:54
5. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +2:58
6. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz/Astana-Qazaqstan Team) +3:09
7. Daniel Martinez (Col/INEOS Grenadiers) same time
8. Sepp Kuss (US/Jumbo-Visma) +3:27
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) +4:04
10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +4:09
General classification after stage 18
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 71hrs 53mins 34secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +3:26
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +8:00
4. David Gaudu (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) +11:05
5. Nairo Quintana (Col/Team Arkea-Samsic) +13:25
6. Louis Meintjes (RSA/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +13:43
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - hansgrohe) +14:10
8. Romain Bardet (Fra/Team DSM) +16:11
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz/Astana-Qazaqstan Team) +20:09
10. Adam Yates (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +20:17
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?