The 18th stage of the Tour de France 2015 took place on July 23, 2015. It led from Gap over 186.5 kilometers to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne . There were a total of seven mountain classifications, three of them in the third category, three in the second category and the Col du Glandon after 147 kilometers, one of the Hors Catégorie . There was also an intermediate sprint after 107.5 kilometers in Rioupéroux . The 18th stage counted as a high mountain stage. 162 riders started.
Since the first mountain classification was held early, a leading group of 16 riders formed immediately, including Joaquim Rodríguez , who was second behind Chris Froome in the mountain classification and wanted to take the lead in this classification. Rodríguez also won this first mountain classification in the second category and thus secured the first five points. After the mountain classification, the top group grew by a further 13 drivers, so that the following 29 drivers were in the front (in alphabetical order according to teams):
In the second mountain classification, which Rodríguez won again, this group had a lead of around 4:30 minutes on the main field. Rodríguez also won the following three mountain classifications and was thus virtually ahead in the mountain classification. After the mountain classification at Col de la Morte , the lead was only 3:35 minutes after the outliers had meanwhile been ahead by more than five minutes. Thomas De Gendt won the following intermediate sprint before the climb to the Col du Glandon (Hors Catégorie). In the climb to the most difficult mountain classification of the day, the escape group disintegrated, Fuglsang, Bardet, Pinot, Anacona, Caruso, Rodríguez, Rolland, Gautier, Jungels, Talansky, Yates and Pauwels were still ahead. After a pace increase by Jungels, Pinot fell behind.
Romain Bardet (center) on the last ascent of the 18th stage, the lacets de Montvernier
In the main field, which had also reached the rise, Warren Barguil attacked first , followed by Mathias Frank , Robert Gesink and Alberto Contador . These four were 2:30 minutes behind the leaders, another 35 seconds behind the other favorites around Chris Froome. Later, Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde attacked from this group , but could not break away.
In the lead, some riders from the top group were able to break away, Romain Bardet won the mountain classification at Col du Glandon ahead of Winner Anacona and Bob Jungels. On the descent, Bardet managed to further distance himself from his eight pursuers. He was about 30 seconds ahead of them, the favorites 2:42 minutes behind. The four drivers around Contador were back with Froome's group. Cyril Gautier and Pierre Rolland tried to close the gap to Bardet, but Bardet was able to maintain his lead and also be the first to cross the last mountain classification. In the end, he won the stage by 33 seconds ahead of Rolland, followed by Anacona, Jungels and Fuglsang. The group of favorites crossed the finish line 3:02 minutes behind.
In the mountain classification, Bardet had the same number of points as Rodríguez through the last two mountain classifications. In the event of a tie, the victories in the individual mountain classifications are decided according to their value. Rodríguez and Bardet each won a mountain classification in the Hors Catégorie and none of the first category. Therefore, the victories in the mountain classifications of the second category, of which Rodríguez had won two, but Bardet only one, which is why Rodríguez received the dotted jersey.
Scoring
Intermediate sprint in Rioupéroux after 107.5 km at 570 m
South AfricaLouis Meintjes (MTN): did not start the stage (illness)
AustraliaMark Renshaw (EQS): Task during the stage (migraine)
Note and individual evidence
↑ In the event of a tie, the victories in the individual mountain classifications are decided according to their value. Rodríguez and Bardet each won a mountain classification in the Hors Catégorie and none of the first category. Therefore, the victories in the mountain classifications of the second category, of which Rodríguez had won two, but Bardet only one, which is why Rodríguez received the dotted jersey.
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Mark Renshaw (EQS): Task during the stage (migraine)