TdF 2019 - Stage 18
 

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Big climbing day with two more to follow. Chance of thunderstorms so we could have at least one wet-road descent.

Will Alaphilippe still be in yellow at the end of stage 18 ?

Over the Col de Vars 30 man breakaway at 7 mins. Hot day and things are going to get hotter.

115kms. 2go.

George Bennett and Nicholas Roche down but both back on bikes.
103kms. 2go.

Bennett back in the peloton, important for Kruijswijk.

Peloton on the Col d'Izoard. Let the battle begin.

Movistar looking strong leading GC group.

Bernard, Caruso, Bardet over the top.

GC guys +5 mins go over summit Movistar in front and Alaphilippe still there.

Quintana in lead group looking to get back into top 5 as things stand. Adam Gates also there with stage win on cards to match Simon's.
52kms. 2go.

On the Galibier. GC group +5mins Ineos setting the pace.

Quintana attacks with 7kms. to summit.

Quintana leading by over a minute as he goes over the summit. Bernal attacks from GC group.

Thomas attacks.

Pinot and Landa close gap to Thomas. Alaphilippe struggling.

Now on final descent.

Alaphilippe catches Thomas group on descent and pushes on. If he stays up he may increase his lead.

Not only did he get dropped...caught up...and attacks and may catch Bernal up the road.

Quintana wins stage.
Bardet 2nd and gets KOM jersey.
Lutsenko 3rd.I

Bernal 30secs ahead of GC guys. Alaphilippe still holds on.

A day for the Colombians.

Impressive Bernal and Alaphilippe, especially mentally.

GC after stage 18

1 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (DQT) 75:18:49
2 BERNAL GOMEZ, Egan Arley (INS) + 1:30
3 THOMAS, Geraint (INS) + 1:35
4 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven (TJV) + 1:47
5 PINOT, Thibaut (GFC) + 1:50
6 BUCHMANN, Emanuel (BOH) + 2:14
7 QUINTANA, Nairo (MOV) + 3:54
8 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (MOV) + 4:54
9 URAN, Rigoberto (EF1) + 5:33
10 VALVERDE, Alejandro (MOV) + 5:58

What a crazy 20kms. I was glued to it as well. Quintana for an amazing stage win!

So is it now clear that Bernal is riding for himself and that Thomas is on his own?

I thought I heard Bennett crashed again @ 4k to go???

I don't think Thomas has the legs to win; he's stronger than JA in the big mountains, but not the other contenders. His acceleration looked impressive in the beginning, but he soon died and Pinot and others caught up to him before the summit. Bernal is Ineos' best chance.

It's looking more and more like JA can keep the Yellow until Paris. Saturday's stage will tell for sure.

Ineos can be on the podium with two guys or they can sacrifice Thomas and go all in for Bernal in Yellow.





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I doubt they will adopt that strategy, at least not yet. Maybe on Saturday if Bernal puts in a similar performance tomorrow.

A lot of the 'experts' like Wiggins & Podcastguy were predicting Alaphilippe would lose the jersey today but the pace set by Ineos wasn't high enough to trouble him except in the last 500m or so at the top the Galibier. Still anyone's to win.