Tour de France 2021: Pogacar wins in Luz-Ardiden

foto: Cor VosTadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Richard Carapaz, Sepp Kuss and Enric Mas are leading the race in the last climbing kilometres of the Tour de France. Mas strikes in the last kilometre, but the yellow jersey brings him back and storms to his third stage win. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 18th stage Tour de France 2021

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.02
3. Richard Carapaz (ecu) s.t.
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.13
5. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.24
6. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 0.30
7. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.33
8. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.34
9. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
10. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.40

11. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.45
12. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.
13. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 1.08
43. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 8.58

GC after stage 18
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 5.45
3. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 5.51
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 8.18
5. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 8.50
6. Enric Mas (spa) + 10.11
7. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 11.22
8. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 12.46
9. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 13.48
10. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 16.25

Race report
Mohoric attacks from the gun with Juul-Jensen and Bennett. They open up a 1 minute gap before Alaphilippe goes after them. Périchon joins the chaser and the two close down the gap in a 30 kilometres chase.

Mohoric and Alaphilippe are the remaining attackers at the base of the Tourmalet. Rolland, Latour, Elissonde, Guerreiro, Gaudu, Fraile and Izagirre come across on the climb.

Gaudu, Alaphilippe and Guerreiro push on together and Latour comes clawing back. Alaphilippe drops back with 3.5 kilometres left to climb. Uran can’t follow the pace in the peloton.

Latour and Alaphilippe drop Guerreiro in the last kilometre of the Tourmalet, while KOM leader Poels follows a move by Woods to reach the summit in fourth position.

Gaudu leaves Latour behind in the descent and he enters the finish climb 20 seconds ahead of the GC group before he is reeled in with 9.5 kilometres left to climb.

Pogacar ups the pace 3.3 kilometres before Luz-Ardiden and Carapaz, Vingegaard, Kuss and Mas go with him.

Mas strikes with just 1 kilometre left. Pogacar closes the gap only to kick again and powers to his third stage win on this Tour de France. He matches his performance of last year, but chances are that he will add another win to his tally on Saturday’s ITT.

Another interesting read: route 18th stage 2021 Tour de France.