2023-07-20 18:48:39
Danish rider Kasper Asgreen won his first victory on Thursday in the Grande Boucle after two second places. He won this 18th stage of the Tour de France in Bourg-en-Bresse. Three days before the finish on the Champs-Élysées, Jonas Vingegaard keeps his yellow jersey with more than 7 minutes ahead of Tadej Pogacar.
Published on: 07/20/2023 – 18:48Modified on: 07/20/2023 – 18:57
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The Dane Kasper Asgreen released his Soudal-Quick Step team by winning the 18th stage of the Tour de France, Thursday July 20, in Bourg-en-Bresse, where he resisted the return of the peloton which had returned to a few meters.
His Danish compatriot Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) retains the yellow jersey at the end of this day of respite for the favorites the day after the last stage in the Alps.
Three days before the finish in Paris, Vingegaard, who barring an accident will win his second Tour de France on Sunday, retains a lead of 7 minutes 35 seconds in the general classification over the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Asgreen, 28, settled on the line the Dutchman Pascal Eenkhoorn and the Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen who had also taken place in the breakaway of the day, just like the Belgian Victor Campenaerts.
The four men were never more than 1 minute 20 seconds ahead of the peloton but managed against all odds to carry their escapade to the end.
Asgreen, well helped by his teammates Julian Alaphilippe and Tom Declercq who, as old veterans, did everything to disrupt the pursuit by constantly intercalating between the teams of sprinters in the peloton.
Winner of the Tour of Flanders in 2021, the Danish rider took the opportunity to claim his first victory on the Grande Boucle after two second places and free his team which had been left empty-handed on this Tour until then.
With AFP
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