Barguil takes stage, Froome keeps his lead

VAN VLEUTEN’S WOMEN’S STAGE WIN SOOTHES RIO HEARTACHE

renchman Warren Barguil won his second stage of the Tour de France on the imposing Col d’Izoard yesterday as compatriot Romain Bardet snatched back four seconds from leader Chris Froome.

Bardet finished third to take some bonus seconds that moved him above Rigoberto Uran into second overall and closed the gap to Froome to 23 seconds. The 25-year-old Frenchman needs only to reach the Tour finale in Paris to claim the polka-dot jersey.

Barguil started the day with a 49-point lead over Primoz Roglic in the competition with a maximum 58 points available before Paris.

But Roglic failed to score a single point on the first category Col de Vars climb during yesterday’s 179.5-km 18th stage, where a maximum of 10 were available.

It meant Sunweb rider Barguil maintained his 49-point lead with only 48 points left.

Barguil’s teammate Australia’s Michael Matthews is also close to tying up the sprinters’ green jersey, which he should do today.

Timely attack

Meanwhile, Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands attacked four kilometres from the finish yesterday to win the first stage of La Course by Le Tour, the women’s race run by Tour de France organisers ASO.

A few hours before the Tour’s 18th stage finishes at the top of the famed Izoard climb, Van Vleuten beat Britain’s Lizzie Deignan by 43 seconds.

The top 20 finishers will compete in a time trial in Marseille tomorrow.

It is Van Vleuten’s biggest win since she suffered a spectacular crash in last year’s Olympics road race in Rio de Janeiro.

AFP A horse rider is framed against Tour contestants.

AP Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the first stage of La Course.

AP Riders pass next to Serre Poncon lake during the 18th stage of the Tour de France, raced over 179.5 kilometres.

AFP Belarus’ Vasil Kiryienka, Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, Spain’s Mikel Landa and Mikel Nieve lead Briton Chris Froome.

AP A spectator cheers the riders during the 18th stage, which started in Briancon and finished on the Izoard pass.

Reuters Team Sky rider Christian Knees of Germany leads the peloton.