Race Report: A super-hard day in the Alps with seven categorized climbs including the long climb of the Glandon and the mini-Alp dHuez of the Lacets de Montvernier. Romain Bardet escaped into the early break and then left them on the climb of the Glandon to solo the last 40 kilometers to the line in Saint Jean de Maurienne. Two stage wins for the French this year, a big change.You dont hear the phrase the French riders fought it out for the stage win today very often these days, but today it was French rider action all the way. Attacks and regroupings were the order of the day, some of it was amongst the top GC riders, but in the end all moves were neutralized for a stalemate.Stage 18 route: Gap to Saint Jean de Maurienne, 186,5 kilometers with seven categorized climbs. The first climb comes straight after the start line; the Col Bayard (Cat 2), the next at 35,5K, Rampe du Motty (Cat 3), Cte de la Mure (Cat 3) 60,5K, Col de Malissol (Cat 3) 70,5K, then at 85 kilometers the Col de la Morte (Cat 2). The big climb of the day is the HC category Col du Glandon comes 40 kilometers from the finish, but there is the Lacets de Montvernier (Cat 2) with its 18 hairpin bends with 10 to go. The KOM competition could be won today.Non-starter this morning was MTN-Qhubekas Louis Meintjes, the 23 year-old fell ill yesterday morning, but battled through the...
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