Cycling: Geraint Thomas (Sky) is the top favorite for overall victory in the Tour de France after today's stage at the latest. The Welshman won in Alpe d'Huez in the sprint of a group of five favorites. Numerous top sprinters had previously left the Tour of France, including André Greipel (Lotto Soudal).
Uran, Greipel, Gaviria & Groenewegen give up
Today the Tour der Leiden went into the third stage in the Alps. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Alpe d'Huez three mountains of the highest category had to be climbed over the 175,5 kilometers. Were no longer allowed to start Marcel Kittel (Katushal-Alpecin), Mark Cavendish and Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data). Do you yesterday missed the time limit. Also Rigoberto Urán (EF Education) - second overall last year - had to sit out today after saying he has aches and pains all over his body. Many more riders left the Tour de France during today's stage. Among other things also finished Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL Jumbo), Tony gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale), Rick Zabel (Katusha-Alpecin), Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) and André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) the race prematurely. This means that there are hardly any sprinters left in the Tour de France.
Rigoberto Uran:
“Today I have bad news to share. I never recovered from my fall. Yesterday I felt pain all over my body on the first climb.”
Steven Kruijswijk threatens the podium
Almost 30 riders were able to break away from the peloton up to the Col de la Madeleine. There were so many top drivers there that Team Sky had a lot of work to do. Among other things there were Alejandro Valverde (movistar), Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Rafal Mayka (Bora-hansgrohe) in the group. The opponents for the mountain jersey were also ahead. The porter Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) secured the maximum number of points at the summit Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic), but fell back from the leading group shortly afterwards. The sixth place overall was completely different: Steven Kruijswijk set off as a soloist on the Col de la Croix de Fer and was already wearing the virtual yellow jersey at that point. Therefore, the teams AG2R La Mondiale and Movistar are now also involved in the tracking work in the peloton. At the summit, Steven Kruijswijk secured full points for the mountains classification. The peloton crossed the line six minutes after him.
Egan Bernal parries all attacks
Team Sky closed the gap up to the foot of the final climb Steven Kruijswijk reduce to 4:20. All other outliers could be collected. The sky train rolls: After Jonathan Castroviejo led the peloton to the final climb, initially took over Michal Kwiatkowski the tempo work, then the boy Egan Bernal. The co-favorites flew out of the group kilometer after kilometer. The young Colombian gradually parried attacks from Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Nairo Quintana and Mikel Landa (Movistar). First Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) was able to open up a gap with around seven kilometers to go. But even the French couldn't really pull away from Sky. But Nairo Quintana broke and lost the connection. So only Nibali, Dumoulin, Roglic and Landa were with the three Sky professionals.
Geraint Thomas sprints to stage victory in yellow
When there were still five kilometers to go, Egan Bernal lost the lead. Then, as expected, things went haywire. Geraint Thomas took over the tempo dictation, but sat shortly afterwards Chris Froome under the boos of the fans his attack. Steven Kruijswijk was asked while one Vincenzo Nibali suddenly saw lying on the ground. The Italian probably fell through a spectator, but was able to continue. But even Chris Froome couldn't break away from the competition. Thomas, Froome, Dumoulin and Bardet sometimes drove side by side on the road. Nobody could distance the other. Finally could Mikel Landa reestablish contact and the sprint ensued. Team Sky left no doubt that they can dominate anything if they want to. Geraint Thomas was the only pro who didn't attack on the final climb to Alpe d'Huez. However, the Welshman took part in the sprint for the day's win - and won with ease! With this he extends his lead in the overall classification. It seems Thomas is the stronger Sky professional and now also the captain for the overall win.
Back to back!@GeraintThomas86 has got a taste for yellow! 💛💛💛
📹 via @itvcycling – watch the highlights at 7pm on @ITV4 #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/7WXTkMdlmT
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 19, 2018