The Dane Kasper Asgreen of Soudal Quick-Step won the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday. The Dutch Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto–Dstny) came in second. Together with Asgreen and two other escapees, they stayed just ahead of the peloton. It is Soudal Quick-Step’s first stage victory in this Tour.
“This sprint suited me perfectly, but [Asgreen] was faster. I couldn’t get over it, that sucks,” said Eenkhoorn. “Asgreen drove a world sprint.” Asgreen himself thanked his fellow sprinters afterwards: “Without them this would not have been possible.”
On Friday there is another hill stage on the program through the Jura to Poligny. This will be followed by a mountain stage, before the Tour de France ends in Paris on Sunday. Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma still holds the yellow jersey, a second overall victory in a row can hardly escape the Dane.