Geraint Thomas has just become the first rider from Britain to grab a stage victory of the Tour de France on Alpe d’Huez and also the first rider to ever win there while wearing yellow.
He was able to retain yellow after winning in an uphill sprint at yesterday’s 175.5km stage which started in Bourg and ended in Saint Maurice followed by Team Sunweb’s rider Tom Dumoulin and AG2R La Mondiale’s rider Romain Bardet.
Right behind the three-man pack was Thomas’ team-mate Chris Froome followed by Movistar’s Mikel Landa.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would win on here,” Thomas said soon after finishing the stage only a couple of seconds ahead of second place. “It’s one of those things that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Even though Thomas’ lead over four-time Tour de France winner, Chris Froome, is extended, Thomas made it clear who the team leader really is.
“Like I said yesterday, I’m still riding for Froomey. Froomey is still the man. He knows how to ride for three weeks. Legend gets used way too much but he’s probably the best ever so I’m just going to enjoy this,” he added.
Sadly, yesterday’s stage didn’t all go well for the defending champion who was slapped by one random spectator at around 7 kilometers to go. Froome has been experiencing a lot of pressure by the fans in France after the salbutamol case from which he was cleared of any wrong doing earlier this month.
? Impressive @GeraintThomas86 ! ➡?
? Impressionnant Geraint Thomas ! ➡?#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/TIBaHafefC— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 18, 2018
Stage 12 result results
Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) – 5hrs 18mins 37secs
Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +2secs
Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) +3secs
Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) same time
Mikel Landa (Spa/Movistar Team) +7secs
Primož Roglic (Slo/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +13secs
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) same
Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) +42secs
Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +47secs
Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +53secs
General classification so far
Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) – 49:24:43
Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 39secs
Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +1min 50secs
Primoz Roglic (Slo/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +2mins 46secs
Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +3mins 7secs
Mikel Landa (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 13secs
Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/LottoNL-Jumbo) +3mins 43secs
Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +4mins 13secs
Daniel Martin (Ire/UAE Emirates) +5mins 11secs
Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana Pro Team) +05mins 45secs
