Kasper Asgreen grabs victory from the breakaway on stage 18 of the Tour de France in Bourg-en-Bresse
Danish rider takes first win of the race for Soudal Quick-Step as breakaway holds on to the line
![Kasper Asgreen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkpWTd2h4dXGHvKk7sK9sQ-415-80.jpg)
Kasper Asgreen took a superb stage win from the breakaway on stage 18 of the Tour de France in Bourg-en-Bresse.
After a long day up the road with Pascal Eenkhorn and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) as well as Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), the Danish rider held on by a handful of metres to grab Soudal Quick-Step’s first win of the race ahead of the rampaging peloton.
As the leaders tore under the flamme rouge, the catch seemed somewhat inevitable although Campenaerts had other ideas. The Lotto rider put in one huge final turn with the finish line in sight as he looked to set up Eenkhorn but Asgreen would capitalise on the move from the Lotto riders.
The former Tour of Flanders winner launched a powerful sprint in the last 300 metres to take a sensational victory and his first at the Tour. Eenkhorn took second and Abrahamsen grabbed third.
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck took fourth ahead of Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen. Philipsen will now have to wait for a fifth stage win in the 2023 Tour.
Jonas Vingegaard came home safely in the main field surrounded by his teammates to defend his lead in the yellow jersey. As expected, there were no changes in the overall standings or any of the other competitions.
How it happened
After an action-packed last few stages - including two in the Alps - the relatively flat parcours of the 185 kilometre stage between Moûtiers and Bourg-en-Bresse will have been a welcome sight for the Tour de France peloton.
However, time was running out for teams without a stage win with just a handful of stages left in this year’s race and Paris drawing ever closer.
The long and flat road to the finish meant that it was almost nailed on to be a mass bunch sprint for the victory with little chance of a breakaway succeeding.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, a three-man move went up the road as soon as race director Christian Prudhomme dropped the flag to get the stage officially underway.
Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) was there, as was Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny).
As the kilometres ticked past, the peloton kept the breakaway well in sight as they tackled the two categorised climbs on the route and the gap to the leaders rarely extended to much more than a minute and a half.
The racing was relatively subdued for much of the stage. However, Simon Geschke (Cofidis) was forced to abandon due to suffering with illness later on.
There would be slight controversy on the second categorised climb as Pascal Eenkhorn (Lotto-Dstny) looked to bridge up to his teammate Campenaerts in the breakaway. As the Dutch rider moved off the front of the peloton, green jersey wearer Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) went with him and attempted to block the attack.
Philipsen’s efforts to prevent Eenkhorn from attacking would ultimately prove to be fruitless. The Dutch rider would try again shortly afterwards and eventually made it up to the leaders.
With 65 kilometres to go, Eenkhorn provided extra firepower for the breakaway as they pushed on towards Bourg-en-Bresse and pushed their advantage back out to over a minute. The trio’s advantage had tumbled slightly beforehand but Eenkhorn’s presence enabled it to increase once more.
As the finish approached, the peloton started to panic and several teams looked to unite their efforts in order to chase the leaders down. Lidl-Trek got on the front along with Bora-Hansgrohe, Jayco-AIUla and Philipsen’s Alpecin-Deceuninck squad.
The breakaway were relentless and tore under the 20 kilometre to go mark with their lead still intact.
With five kilometres to go Nils Pollitt (Bora-Hansgrohe) put in a huge effort at the head of the chasing peloton which cut the breakaway’s advantage down to just a handful of seconds. Bahrain Victorious and Astana Qazaqstan also had riders present although the peloton were unable to organise themselves when it mattered.
Campenaerts led the four-man break under the flamme rouge and put in a massive final effort as he looked to set up Eenkhorn for the sprint with the peloton breathing down their necks.
As the Belgian finished a huge final turn, Asgreen launched a vicious sprint in the final 300 metres. Eenkhorn was unable to respond and the Danish rider held on to take a huge victory for Soudal Quick-Step.
Eenkhorn was forced to settle for second and Abrahamsen took third ahead of Philipsen who led the peloton home.
Tour de France stage 18: Moûtiers to Bourg-en-Bresse 185 km
1. Kasper Asgreen (Den) Soudal Quick-Step, in 04-06-48
2. Pascal Eenkhorn (Ned) Lotto-Dstny,
3. Jonas Abrahamsen (Nor) Uno-X,
4. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck,
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek,
6. Cees Bol (Ned) Astana-Qazaqstan,
7. Jordi Meeus (Deu) Bora-Hansgrohe,
8. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Emirates,
9. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma,
10. Luca Mozzatto (Ita) Arkea-Samsic, all at same time
General classification after stage 18
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 72-04-39
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 7-35
3. Adam Yates (GBr) UAE Team Emirates, at 10-45
4. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers, at 12-01
5. Simon Yates (Gbr) Jayco-AIUla, at 12-19
6. Pello Bilbao (Esp) Bahrain Victorious, at 12-50
7. Jai Hindley (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 13-50
8. Felix Gall (Aut) AG2R Citroën, at 16-11
9. Sepp Kuss (Usa) Jumbo-Visma, at 16-49
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 17-57
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered races elsewhere across the world.
As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and helps with coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
Unbound Gravel lottery opens two months early, ensuring riders are 'more prepared than ever'
Registration for the 2025 Unbound Gravel will open on Friday, November 1, 2024, and close two weeks later, on November 15. Lottery winners will be announced on November 21, 2024.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Star triathlete Taylor Knibb to take on world's fastest cyclists in the Olympic time trial
Colorado-based 26-year-old Taylor Knibb will be representing Team USA in both the individual time trial and triathlon at the Paris Olympics.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Primož Roglič reveals he suffered back fracture in Tour de France crash
Slovenian abandoned race after being caught up in crash on stage 12, Vuelta a España participation now in doubt
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
'A bigger result than winning': Jonas Vingegaard hails second place at the Tour de France
It turns out second place is not always 'first loser'
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'Even if I never come back to the Tour de France I will be satisfied': Tadej Pogačar revels in third victory
Three Tour de France wins before turning 26, the Giro-Tour double, the suggestion of a triple crown. Records tumble for the Slovenian
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel: No one should doubt me anymore
The Tour de France's third-placed finisher suggests that he will have to reduce his time trial work if he is to beat Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Tadej Pogačar: 'There will always be doubts... but cycling is the cleanest sport'
Tour de France champion addresses critics, saying it would be "super stupid" to dope
By Adam Becket Published
-
How Tadej Pogačar created history and won the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double
A journey that was supposedly fraught with risk and uncertainty was anything but for Giro d'Italia and Tour de France victor Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published