Victor Campenaerts Captures Stage 18 Victory at the 2024 Tour de France After Exciting Tactical Battle

 

Stage 18 began from Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in southeastern France to Barcelonnette over a distance of 179.5 kilometers.

An early breakaway on the day was made up of 37 riders, who put in a 2:30 gap on the peloton with 135 kilometers to go.

122 kilometers from the finish, on the first climb of the day at the Category 3 Côte de Corps, Oier Lazkano (Movistar Team) arrive to the summit first with Stage 17 winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost) just behind in second to the top. With 115 km to go on the stage, the lead group had increased its lead over the peloton to 4 minutes as they headed towards the intermediate sprint.

82 kilometers from the stage finish at the second major climb of the day, the Category Col de Manse, Oier Lazkano once again was the first to the summit and was followed by Richard Carapaz. 

Over the next few kilometers the front of the pack continued to build its early lead on the peloton, clocking in at 7 minutes ahead of the main group with 70 kilometers remaining on the day.

65 kilometers from the finish, nearing the Côte de Saint-Apollinaire, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) put in an attack off the front, but could not make it stick as the group quickly reformed. 

At the Côte de Saint-Apollinaire, a Category 3 climb 58 kilometers from the line, Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X-Mobility) summited first followed in close pursuit by veteran rider Michał Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers). 

Following the summit at the Côte de Saint-Apollinaire, there were a number of attacks, but as before nobody managed to break away.

43 kilometers from the finish line, the leading men began their last categorized climb of this stage, the Category 3 Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées, which covered 3.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 5.4%. At the Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées, with 40 kilometers to go, Michał Kwiatkowski with Richard Carapaz reaching the peak in second.

With 15 kilometers remaining to the line, a three-man break off the front had formed, made up of Michał Kwiatkowski, Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies), and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny).

Under 3 kilometers to go, the group of three at the front held a 40 second lead on the nearest chase group, meaning that it was almost assured Kwiatkowski, Vercher, or Campenaerts would emerge victorious on the day with Kwiatkowski having the most proven sprint legs.

The final kilometers was a tactical battle between the front three riders, Vercher went off for a brief attack, but was caught with 700 kilometers to go. Kwiatkowski was on the front with 400 meters to go, but on the final turn to the finish line, Campenaerts put in his attack in the last 200 meters to hold off Kwiatkowski and Vercher to take the day on a dazzling bit of tactical gamesmanship and a final burst on a hilly day.

Following his victory, Campenaerts was extremely emotional in a heartfelt interview as well, sharing how his future on the Tour was uncertain not long before the start of this year's season, but the birth of his child and the support of his girlfriend were central to him reaching his goals and being happy. These interviews can truly how how as much as cycling is an exciting sport to watch for its tactics, grit, and stunning views, it also involves a lot of blood, sweat, and tears from riders who have concerns about their own livelihood, families, and personal well-being.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) would retain the Maillot Jaune as leader of the overall classification, along with his lead in the King of the Mountains classification. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step), in third place overall in the general classification, would remain atop the Best Young Rider category, while Biniam Girmay (Intermarché–Wanty) held onto the Green Jersey as leader of the points classification. Tobias Halland Johannessen, who had an unfortunate crash in the closing kilometers of the day but was able to get back in the saddle to make it safely across the finish line, was voted Most Combative Rider on the stage.

Stage 19 will start from the commune of Embrun in the Hautes-Alpes department and cover 144.6 kilometers, ending on a climb finish at the Isola 2000 ski resort.