Roglic keeps lead in Tour with victory in his sights
Pole wins saw-tooth stage 18 over a leg-burning five alpine ascents
Paris, and victory at the Tour de France, are almost within reach for Primoz Roglic.
The Slovenian rider safely negotiated the last truly mountainous stage of this year’s race, moving a big step closer to adding what would be his first Tour win to the Vuelta a Espana he conquered last year.
Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski won the saw-tooth stage 18, up and down over a leg-burning succession of five alpine ascents. His first stage victory at the Tour was also the first at this race for his Ineos Grenadiers team, a consolation prize after the withdrawal of their leader, 2019 Tour champion Egan Bernal.
By avoiding any mishaps on a brutal stage that included a treacherous stretch of gravel path that punctured the front tyre of another top contender, Australian Richie Porte, Roglic has just two more stages to digest before being able to ride into Paris on Monday with the yellow jersey on his shoulders to the finish.
Kwiatkowski finished arm-overarm with teammate Richard Carapaz. They did not sprint to the line, instead crossing together, all smiles, their faces caked with dust, and with Kwiatkowski’s front tyre just ahead.
Kwiatkowski is a former world champion and veteran of seven Tours who likely would have won other stages before now had he not devoted much of his career to helping other riders win the Tour title.
Carapaz said Ineos’ goals for the day were winning the stage and putting him in the polka dot jersey awarded to riders who vacuum up the most points on the Tour’s climbs. They did both.
With Carapaz having secured the jersey on the ascents, the Ecuadorian rider then graciously left the win to his loyal teammate who had helped him up the climbs.
Yeah, it’s crazy, eh? Still, more time for more enjoyment will be then, after the Tour. Primoz Roglic
“Basically, he decided,” said Kwiatkowski of Carapaz, who last year became Ecuador’s first Grand Tour champion by winning the Giro d’Italia.
“He’s an incredible person. We are going to celebrate big time because we all deserve it after so many stages,” he said. “We put in a show [yesterday].”
Further back, in his own battle to keep the overall race lead, Roglic again kept Tadej Pogacar, his Slovenian countryman and closest rival, firmly in his grasp. Roglic surged ahead of Pogacar on the dusty gravel track at the top of the day’s toughest climb, making clear that he was in no mood to cede seconds so close to Paris.
Roglic remains 57 seconds ahead of Pogacar overall, and has a lead of one minute, 27 seconds over Colombian rider Miguel Angel Lopez, still third.
After 3157km of racing over four mountain ranges since the August 30 start in Nice, Roglic has just 203km left to ride before the final stage into Paris, traditionally a leisurely procession with a sprint fiercely contested at the end by riders who weren’t chasing the overall title.
A time trial tomorrow is his last significant hurdle. But Roglic’s lead should, barring a mishap, amply fend off any final challenge over the 36km race against the clock.
Staying focused, Roglic isn’t yet allowing himself to savour his Tour. That can wait until Monday.
“I also try to enjoy it. Yeah, it’s crazy, eh?” he said.
“Still, more time for more enjoyment will be then, after the Tour.”