(AP)
Jonas Vingegaard responded to a series of attacks from defending champion Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France on stage 18 and ultimately dropped his rival in the last big mountain stage of this year’s race.
With only one big test left before the race reaches Paris — a 41-kilometre time trial scheduled for Saturday — the Jumbo-Visma leader seems all but guaranteed to win a maiden Tour title after reaching the Hautacam resort on his own. Barring a crash, the yellow jersey should be his.
Pogacar, the two-time defending champion, cracked about 4km from the finish after spending the day on the attack. Vingegaard then went solo to claim a second stage win following his success at the Col du Granon last week in the Alps on the day he took control of the race. Pogacar crossed the finish line more than one minute behind Vingegaard as Geraint Thomas cemented his spot on the podium.
Follow all the latest action from stage 18 below.
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
Reaction from stage 18 winner and Tour de France leader, Jonas Vingegaard:
“It’s unbelievable. This morning, I said to my girlfriend and my daughter that I wanted to win for them and I did. This one is for my two girls back home.
“I was just happy that it finally ended. I am so really happy they I won the stage, now there is more days to come. I think he [Pogacar] kind of missed the corner and then he went down into the gravel. The bike disappeared. I waited for him.
“Luckily I have to thank all my teammates. You see Wout van Aert dropped Pogacar in the end. Everyone was incredible. They were all incredible. Thanks so much to my teammates.
“I don’t want to talk about it [winning the Tour de France]. Let’s talk about it in two days.”
Michael Jones21 July 2022 17:07
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
Here’s a look at the top-five finishers on stage 1:
2. Tadej Pogacar at 1’3”
3. Wout van Aert at 2’10”
4. Geraint Thomas at 2’54”
5. David Gaudu at 2’57”
Jonas Vingegaard rode himself within touching distance of the Tour de France title and Geraint Thomas put in yet another strong shift to cling onto his podium place in the GC standings.
Michael Jones21 July 2022 17:00
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
Jonas Vingegaard’s stage win also means he has taken the lead in the King of the Mountains competition as well. Only two riders have won the Tour de France and the KOM competition the same year in this century:
Chris Froome (2015) and Tadej Pogacar (2020 and 2021).
Will Vingegaard become the third?
Michael Jones21 July 2022 16:51
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Michael JonesJuly 21, 2022 4:46 p.m.
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
Jonas Vingegaard takes the victory with Tadej Pogacar following across the line. Wout van Aert had enough energy left in the tank to come home in third.
That’s a remarkable result for the green jersey holder.
Michael JonesJuly 21, 2022 4:43 p.m.
Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!
Jonas Vingegaard wins the last mountain stage of the 2022 Tour de France! Tadej Pogacar finishes second goal he’s over a minute behind the Dane.
The reigning champion has been well beaten today, every attack he made was countered by Vingegaard who now has a firm grip on the yellow jersey.
Michael Jones21 July 2022 16:39
Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE
1.5km to go: Jonas Vingegaard has increased his lead over Tadej Pogacar to 45 seconds. He’s leading the Tour de France by three minutes now.
This has been a perfect ride from the Dane and his being cheered in over the final kilometers but the crowds on the side of the road.
(EPA)
(EPA)
Michael Jones21 July 2022 16:34
Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE
3km to go: Jonas Vingegaard is out in front on his own. Wout van Aert is out of gas and gets reeled in by Tadej Pogacar who is now 27 seconds behind.
Vingegaard is going to win stage 18 and all but secure the yellow jersey.
Michael JonesJuly 21, 2022 4:29 p.m.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE
4km to go: Pogacar dropped! Wout van Aert ups the pace again with Jonas Vingegaard sticking to his wheel. It’s too much for the Slovenian who has to watch them sail ahead.
Van Aert is winning the Tour de France for Vingegaard.
This pair are inside of four kilometers left in the stage so Vingegaard decides it’s time to kick on alone.
Michael Jones21 July 2022 16:27
Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE
5km to go: Wout van Aert waits up for team mates Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss to catch up before taking up the job as the pace setter.
Kuss drops away and leaves Van Aert and Vingegaard to it. Tadej Pogacar sticks with them. One of these three will win the stage.
Michael JonesJuly 21, 2022 4:24 p.m.