Belgian cyclist Victor Campenaerts claimed victory in stage 18 of the Tour de France, leading an escape group around the breathtaking Lake Serre-Poncon in the Alps on Thursday.
Overall leader Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard maintained a calm demeanor as the escape group extended their lead to 15 minutes. The duo conserved their energy for the crucial final days of the 2024 Tour, which culminates in Nice on Sunday. Pogacar continued to lead Vingegaard by 3 minutes and 11 seconds as the main peloton crossed the finish line in Barcelonnette, 13 minutes and 41 seconds after Campenaerts.
The Lotto-Dstny rider, previously the holder of the one-hour world record, was emotional at the finish, tearfully conversing with his wife via video. Campenaerts' victory shared the spotlight with the 20km-long artificial Lake Serre-Poncon, known for its turquoise waters that reach depths of 90 meters in spring.
This stage provided a rare chance for less prominent cyclists to shine in a race primarily focused on the intense battle for the title. Thirty riders competed around various lake resorts, cheered on by holidaymakers, tackling 22km of categorized climbs that fragmented the escape group into smaller units amidst pine-wooded hills, offering some respite from the scorching 33°C (91°F) heat.
Norwegian rider Tobias Johannessen of Uno-X had a narrow escape after falling on a sharp downhill corner overlooking the lake but managed to avoid a disastrous fall into a ravine. Eritrean rising star Biniam Girmay kept the green sprint jersey ahead of Jasper Philipsen as the escape group secured the intermediate sprint points far ahead of the main peloton.
The final three stages promise to be dramatic, with Friday's route taking the peloton to an altitude of 2800 meters followed by a steep descent. Saturday's stage includes two mountains and another downhill finish, while the last stage features a 34km individual time trial from Monaco to Nice, potentially altering the standings significantly.
