The Tour de France almost fell over in the descent of the Col de Spandelles, in the Pyrenees. And twice. First when Jonas Vingegaard, imperturbable Yellow Jersey since taking power in the Alps on the slopes of Granon in the Alps, failed to finish on the ground. Pressured on the climb by the attacks of Tadej Pogacar, the Dane of the Jumbo Visma momentarily lost control of his bike before catching himself just as he tried to follow the frantic pace of the Slovenian in the descent of the second difficulty of this 18th stage between Lourdes and Hautacam.
A few minutes later, it was the double winner of the Grande Boucle who was caught at his own game. Less than 29 kilometers from the last finish at the top of the event, the UAE-Emirates rider fell, at low speed after having taken a too wide turn and rolled in the gravel of the shoulder. Tadej Pogacar immediately got up to get back on his bike and catch up with Jonas Vingegaard.
The latter did not force and waited for the one who continues to harass him in this last week, who will have to finish the stage with a torn short on the left side. The two men also shook hands in stride, as if to signify the end of hostilities in this descent. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard then switched to the Hautacam climb, attacked first by a group made up of green jersey Wout Van Aert, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot and Colombian Daniel Martinez.