Nairo Quintana, who was often mocked for his propensity to stay in the wheels, set a decisive attack Wednesday on the slopes of the Galibier. The Colombian rider, who was no longer in the race for the final victory, went alone in the lead at the top before winning alone in Valloire, the end of the 18th stage of 208 km and leaving Embrun. The Movistar rider has left behind his four breakaway companions, including Frenchman Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale), 2nd at 1'35 ", and Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), 3rd at 2'28" . Behind, the fight between the favorites of the Tour took place late, the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos) carrying a sharp attack to a little over 3 km from the summit. At the finish line, the White Jersey of the Tour took over 32 "to Julian Alaphilippe and moved back to second place overall, to the detriment of his British teammate, Geraint Thomas.
When Thomas rolls behind his teammate ...
The outgoing winner of the Tour has done everything to keep his place of dolphin, including attacking behind his teammate! While there was barely a kilometer of climb, certainly very difficult, the Welsh has placed a "mine" at the top of the group of favorites. But she remained vain, Thibaut Pinot returning to him even before the summit. Leaked in the last laces of the Galibier, Alaphilippe clung and managed to come back in the middle of the descent to Valloire, only giving time to Bernal, who returns 1'30 "to the general.The big fight will continue Thursday, with a shorter stage, but also with two passes of choice on the program, the Iseran, the "roof" of the Tour, and the final climb to Tignes.