Bardet wins 18th stage of the Tour de France, Froome leads

Today’s Tour de France Standings battle took the riders from Gap to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Another mountain stage done, two more to go.

But Rodriguez will keep a hold of the polka dot jersey he has worn for the past week in place of Froome by virtue of his HC stage win haul at Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees.

For too long he had been forced to defend himself against innuendo and the suspicion generated by his supremacy in the race.

Froome, champion in 2013, is halfway through the hurdle of the Alp Mountains with three stages left, including Sunday’s ride through the streets of Paris. The British rider isn’t about to get distracted and take his eyes off the road now.

“(But) I definitely do not hate being in this position.

World cycling’s governing body and Tour de France organisers want fans to “respect the yellow jersey” in the Alps after incidents affecting leader Chris Froome and other Team Sky members.

Searching, as he always does, for a new twist to Tour favourites, race director Christian Prudhomme has scheduled the latest finish ever on the Alpe, just the day before the finale in Paris.

Race officials say the 30-year Briton’s bike was one of six tested in a surprise check after the 18th stage, including that of stage victor Romain Bardet of France. “Morale is good and everyone is up for it. We can see the finish”.

Rumours of motors have been constant over the past five years, but there have been no sightings to date, and, as is par for the course when inspections are carried out, there was not a cog nor a battery hidden anywhere in Froome’s machine, nor that of the stage victor, Romain Bardet, nor points leader Peter Sagan.

Colombian victor Anacona (Movistar) led a chasing trio containing Bob Jungels (Trek Factory Racing) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) across the line 59 seconds down on Bardet after being dropped by Rolland after the final summit, 10km from the finish.

Fifth-place Alberto Contador (6 min, 40 seconds back) had attacked on the hors category 21-km long Col du Glandon with Nibali and Nairo Quintana (second at 3 minutes, 10 seconds behind) both stretching their legs as well. “I was in pain.”.

It was a stunning effort from a man who finished sixth overall last year and was made all the impressive by the fact he had to get over the picturesque Lacets de Montvernier climb with 10 kilometres to go and hold off a flying Rolland as well as a half dozen others. He hasnt been consistent enough to improve on that this year, but he is the highest-placed French rider so far. People said if you win the stage in the Dauphiné, I am pretty sure that you can win again in the Tour de France.

“Almost every mile of the race up until now youve had spectators all the way, and we had three kilometers there where there was no one, ” Froome said. The moto moved up on his right-hand side and was unable to avoid Fuglsang as he swung off, due to the narrow road. But a cheering crowd waiting from Bardet at the top gave him a burst of energy to the finish.

“I had goosebumps, ” he said. But the Tour has covered 1,865 miles and their chances have almost run out to dislodge the 2013 victor.