The Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky), who wears the yellow jersey, won the 12th stage of the Tour de France, this Thursday 19th July, 2018, at Alpe d’Huez.
The Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky) , yellow jersey holder, won the 12th stage of the Tour de France , Thursday 19th July, 2018, at the Alpe d’Huez .
Thomas, already the winner the day before at La Rosière, won … in the sprint ahead of Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, Frenchman Romain Bardet and Briton Chris Froome.
🏆 @GeraintThomas86 🏆#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/R5cflFZ8Hx
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) 19 July 2018
” Froome ‘remains the leader’
The four-time winner of the Tour, the Briton Chris Froome, took fourth place, just seconds away.
💬 @GeraintThomas86 : “Chris is still the man.”
💬 G. Thomas : “Chris reste le numéro un.”#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/kkBrflG12d— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) 19 July 2018
For his part, the Colombian Nairo Quintana was distanced in the last seven kilometers and dropped about fifty seconds.
In the standings, Thomas now precedes Froome 1 min 39 sec, at the exit of the Alps.
“I said yesterday (Wednesday), ‘Froome’ remains the leader,” however said Thomas, who behaved as a lieutenant in the climb of Alpe d’Huez
The 32-year-old Welsh is the first British winner at Alpe d’Huez. He is also the first yellow jersey to win since Lance Armstrong in 2004, before the American was stripped of his titles for doping.
The successive starts between the podium contenders have condemned the long escape of Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk, who started from a distance from the Iron Cross, the second of three big climbs of the day.
Kruijswijk integrated into a river breakaway formed on the first slope of the Madeleine, the first large pass. He left behind his last companions halfway up the Croix-de-Fer, 68 kilometers from the finish.
Nibali thrown to the ground, Froome taken to pieces
At the top, the Dutch rocked more than 6 minutes ahead of the group of favorites led mostly by the team of Froome and Thomas, partially relayed by the men of Bardet and Quintana.
On the verge of the last four kilometers, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali was thrown to the ground in confusion, apparently caused by motorcycles and the public. The Sicilian however was able to get back on the bike and crossed the line with a handful of seconds behind the leading group, who played cat and mouse in the last kilometers.
In the climb, Froome had to contend with more whistles. According to the TV images, a spectator even tried to attack him with his hand up.
Hoots also welcomed Thomas at the podium ceremony.
Sprinters give up
This 175.5 kilometre third alpine stage provoked disaster in the ranks of the sprinters. Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen and Colombian Fernando Gavraria, both two-stage winners since the start, have dropped out, as has Germany’s André Greipel.
A lot of sprinters retired today, but not him : just like @petosagan, @ArnaudDemare has made it 💪
De nombreux sprinteurs ont jeté l’éponge aujourd’hui, mais pas lui : @ArnaudDemare est bien arrivé ! 💪#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/X7tWTrKeki— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) 19 July 2018
Before the departure of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the Colombian Rigoberto Uran, second of the Tour de France in 2017, had also given up.
Other dropouts were also recorded, including that of Frenchman Tony Gallopin who leaves the Bardet team reduced to five riders.
