Tour de France 2018 Stage 18: Arnaud Démare sprints to victory, Geraint Thomas safely in yellow

The Tour de France's 18th stage is a rolling affair with a flat finish in Pau. Arnaud Demare sprints to victory ahead of Christophe Laporte and Alexander Kristoff. Geraint Thomas finishes safely in the bunch and regains the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 18th stage 2018 Tour de France

1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
3. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
5. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
6. Maximiliano Richeze (arg) s.t.
7. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
8. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
9. Taylor Phinney (usa) s.t.
10. Timothy Dupont (bel) s.t.

GC after the 18th stage
1. Geraint Thomas (gbr)
2. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.59
3. Chris Froome (gbr) + 2.31
4. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.47
5. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.30
6. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 4.19
7. Mikel Landa (spa) + 4.34
8. Romain Bardet (fra) + 5.13
9. Daniel Martin (irl) + 6.33
10. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 9.31

Race report
Five men are off once the flag is dropped. Luke Durbridge, Niki Terpstra, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Thomas Boudat and Mathew Hayman. Peloton keeps chasing until km 25 before stopping its efforts. The five race to a lead of almost 2 minutes before the peloton takes control.

With 105 kms remaining the gap is down to 1 minute when Jasper Stuyven, Michael Gogl and Sep Vanmarcke try to jump across to the front group. They don’t make it and the break distances the peloton to more than 2 minutes.

Shortly after Côte d’Anos they are brought back by a group of some ten riders. A little later the peloton regains contact.

In the ensuing bunch sprint Arnaud Démare finishes off ahead of Christophe Laporte and Alexander Kristoff. Geraint Thomas regains the maillot jaune ahead of Tom Dumoulin and Chris Froome.