2013 Tour de France stage 18 results and photos

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2013 Tour de France
100th edition: June 29 - July 21, 2013

Stage 18 results and photos

Back to 2013 Tour de France | Photos from stage 18 (posted below results and maps) |

Thursday, July 18: Stage 18, Gap - L'Alpe d'Huez, 172.5 km

Rated Ascents:

Km 13.0: Col de Manse, 6.6 km @ 6.2% gradient, Category 2
Km 45.0: Rampe du Motty, 2.4 km @ 8%, Category 3
Km 95: Col d'Ornon (1,371m), 5.1 km @ 6.7 %, Category 2
Km 122.5: 1st ascent of Alpe d'Huez, 12.3 km @ 8.4%, Hors Category
Km 131.5: Col de Sarenne, 3 km @ 7.8%, Category 2
Km 172.5: 2nd ascent of Alpe d'Huez, 13.8 km @ 8.1 %, Hors Category

Stage 18 finish

Weather: At L'Alpe d'Huez at 12:45 PM local time it is 11C (51F) with the wind from the north at just 3 km/hr (2mph). Humidity is 81%. Thunderstorms are likely with a 90% chance of rain. The temperature is forecast to rise to 16C (61F) and the wind to come from the east-southeast at 11 km/hr (7 mph).

End of race weather update: except for a few drops, there was no rain to spoil the day.

The Race: After the day's first rated ascent, the Col de Manse, nine riders coalesced, including Jens Voigt, Tom Danielson, Sylvain Chavanel and Lars Boom. With 107 kilometers to go they were 6min 24sec ahead of the Yellow Jersey group, led by Sky riders.

Saxo-Tinkoff riders Sergio Paulinho and Nicolas Roche scooted away from the pack on the Rampe du Motty, obviously part of a set-piece to help Contador later in the race. Over the top of the Col d'Ornon the nine-man break was 8min 20sec ahead of the Froome Group with Paulinho and Roche 2min 30sec in front of the Yellow Jersey. The race was on dry streets.

Approaching the first ascent of L'Alpe d'Huez the pack got edgy as the speed increased while various contenders tried to improve their position within the peloton.

Sky tapped out a modest tempo up the Alpe with the rest of the contenders content with the pace. Off the front of the break, Tejay Van Garderen had an 8min 20sec lead on the Froome group with half the ascent of L'Alpe d'Huez remaining.

Over the top, Van Garderen with Moreno Moser and Christophe Riblon went first with various riders (including Voigt, Pierre Rolland and Andy Schleck) scattered between the trio and the Froome group, 8min 15sec back. Froome still had three teammates left and Roche and Paulinho had been absorbed.

The descent of the Col de Sarenne was hair-raisingly scary. Contador, a superb descender, attacked with teammate Roman Kreuziger while drops of rain started to fall. Sky let them go. Up front Van Garderen's chain jammed and Riblon went off the road, leaving Moser alone in the lead. Contador and Kreuziger were caught. Movistar went to the front and dropped the hammer hard.

At the start of the second climb up L'Alpe d'Huez, Riblon, Moser and Van Garderen were together, the Schleck group had been absorbed by the Yellow Jersey group which was lined out, at 6min 30sec. Moreno was popped once the hill started to bite.

Richie Porte took over leading the Froome group. His pace was momentarily too fast for Froome, and Porte slowed. With 11 km to go Van Garderen was alone and 4min 35sec ahead.

Froome closed up to several attacking riders and then his group slowed with Porte again at the front.

Bam! at 9.6 km to go, Froome just rode away from the front. Quintana was napping a little back and struggled to bridge, which he did. Joaquin Rodriguez then made contact with Quintana and Froome. Contador and Valverde had no answer and further back Roman Kreuziger was pedaling squares.

Rodriquez had announced his intention to make the podium and made good his ambition with a vicious attack, dropping Quintana and Froome. After a couple of kilometers Rodriguez was caught and then Porte made it back up to the trio. Porte accelerated and Froome was again distanced, causing Porte to again slow.

4.2 km to go Froome put his hand up to send Porte back to the car for food, quite against the rules. Quintana, sensing Froome's hunger knock, took Rodriguez with him. And then Quitnana went off alone in search of Van Garderen and Riblon.

With 2.3 km to go Riblon, desperate to be the year's first French stage winner, was 15 seconds behind Van Garderen. Riblon looked strong while Van Garderen seemed to have run out of gas. In fact, 500 meters later Riblon went right by Van Garderen. Further back, nursed by Porte, Froome looked dreadful.

Riblon, jaw clenched, continued to drive hard and won alone. What a ride! Despite his troubles in the final kilometers, Froome extended his lead.

Results: 175 classified finishers