Julian Alaphilippe took his second stage win of the 2018 Tour de France today, passing a crashed Adam Yates on the descent from Col de Portillon to finish solo. Despite the painful looking crash, Yates managed a third place finish behind Gorka Izagirre.
The stage was marred by a farmer’s protest at km 29. Haybales were placed across the road, blocking riders and race vehicles. Tour security attempted to use tear gas to break up the protest, but their efforts backfired when wind blew the gas back into the riders. Many, including race leader Geraint Thomas, had to be treated for inhalation. The race was neutralized until everyone was sufficiently recovered.
Pasqualon, Majka, Küng and Pellizotti attacked at km 35, soon after the race was back on, but never gained more than 20 seconds.
Warren Barguil, Daryl Impey, Julien Bernard and Julian Alaphilippe went clear with a ten second lead at km 58 and were soon joined by Politt, Molard, Valgren and Muhlberger. That break turned into a massive pack of 47 riders at one point, leading the peloton by 5 minutes at km 100.
Phillipe Gilbert escaped the break for a solo attack on the Col de Portet d’Aspet, besting Warren Barguil by 55″ seconds at the summit, but had a horrible crash on the descent. He managed to get up and keep racing, however.
Following the crash of Philippe Gilbert, the front group was composed of Andrey Amador, Damiano Caruso, Tejay Van Garderen, Durasek, Slagter, Robert Gesink and Bernard.
Caruso and Gesink pulled clear and were soon joined by Alaphilippe, who went on to take the point atop the summit of the Col de la Mente, securing his hold on the KOM jersey.
The group at the front swelled again, composed of Matthias Fränk, Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale), Warren Barguil (Fortuneo – Samsic), Robert Gesink (LottoNL – Jumbo), Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing Team), Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale), Gorka Izagirre, Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain – Merida), Adam Yates (Mitchelton – Scott), Andrey Amador, Marc Soler (Movistar Team), Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors), Gregor Mühlberger (Bora – Hansgrohe), Michael Valgren (Astana Pro Team), Rudy Molard (Groupama – FDJ), Jelle Vanendert (Lotto – Soudal), Bauke Mollema (Trek – Segafredo), Guillaume Martin (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) forming the front group with 28km to go. The peloton was 12 minutes back.
As the leaders hit the Col de Portillon, Matthias Frank went to the front while Warren Barguil dropped off the back. It was then Pozzoviv and Gesink who moved up. Mollema bridged to the leaders as the ascent began in earnest. They were joined by Marcus Soler, Gorka Izaguirre and Adam Yates with Alaphillipe not far off.
Adam Yates went on the attack, crossing the Col de Portillon first, with Alaphilippe taking the second place points. Yates crashed in the final kilometers, opening the door for Alaphilippe to go on to a solo win.
The peloton finished together to secure Geraint Thomas’ yellow jersey lead for another day.
Stage 16 Brief Results:
- Julian Alaphilippe (QST) at 5h13’22”
- Gorka Izaguirre (TBM) at 15″
- Adam Yates (MTS) s.t.
- Bauke Mollema (TFS) s.t.
- Domenico Pozzovivo (TBM) at 18″
- Robert Gesink (TLJ) at 37″
- M. Valgren (AST) at 56″
- G. Muhlberger (BOH) s.t.
- Marcus Soler (MOV) at 1’10”
- Pierre Latour (ALM) at 1’18”
General Classification After Stage 16:
- Geraint Thomas (SKY) at 68h12’01”
- Chris Froome (SKY) at 1’29”
- Tom Dumoulin (SUN) at 1’50”
- Primoz Roglic (TLJ) at 2’38”
- Romain Bardet (ALM) at 3’21”
- Mikel Landa (MOV) at 3’42”
- Steven Kruijswijk (TLJ) at 3’57”
- Nairo Quintana (MOV) at 4’23”
- Jakob Fuglsang (AST) at 6’14”
- Daniel Martin (UAD) at 6’54”
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