As it happened: Sprinters time it wrong on Tour de France stage 18

Bonjour and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 18 of the 2023 Tour de France.

The riders are signing on in Moûtiers for the rolling 184km ride to Bourg-en-Bresse. 

The sun is out for what should be a fast ride north out of the Alps. 

The stage suits the sprinters but it'll be fascinating to see if they can control the  breakaway attempts.

This is the profile of the stage.

Tadej Pogacar has signed on and confirmed he is ready to race on.

"It was brutal,” he said of his suffering on the Col de la Loze. 

“It was hard but I have to thank my team, they pushed me to finish, especially Marc Soler, he saved the podium for me. It was super hard but I’m still here, still standing so we keep fighting to the end.”

We're five minutes from the roll out from Moûtiers. 

The riders head to Albertville and then Chambery as they leave the Alps before heading northwest via the Ain region for the finish in  Bourg-en-Bresse.

Vingegaard lines up on the front of the start grid in fresh yellow. He has lost teammate Wout Van Aert, who has headed home to be with his wife, who is about to give birth, but now leds Pogacar buy 7:35. 

He has to stay safe, stay healthy and focus on riding to Paris on Sunday.  

Wout Van Aert announced he would not start stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday and he has headed back to Belgium to be with his wife Sarah, who is due to give birth to their second child shortly.

In a video put out by the team on Twitter, Van Aert said: “As everyone knows Sarah is pregnant. In consultation with the team, we have decided that my place is at home. We have been seeing the doctor at home and he has assessed that labour is imminent.”

Click below to read our story. 

Wout Van Aert leaves Tour de France ahead of birth of second child

Bang on schedule, the riders roll out from the start. 

They face a long 16.2km neutralised section before the flag drops and the stage officially starts.  

Riders are usually packed tight behind the red race director's car but everyone seems tired today after the huge effort of stage 17.  

Still 6km to ride in the neutralised sector. 

The riders are enjoying this roll out but someone will surely attack.  

Only nine of the 22 teams in the Tour de France have won a stage so there will be a big fight to make the breakaway and motivation to make it stick from teams who have missed out so far, in particular Soudal-Quickstep who lost sprinter Fabio Jakobsen to a crash on stage 12.

The sprinters' teams will likely take over the chase with the flat finale in the capital of the Ain department, where Jasper Philipsen will hope to take his fifth stage and add to his tally in the points classification.

Philipsen holds a massive lead of 137 points over Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and is unlikely to be overtaken unless disaster strikes before the final stage in Paris.

Jumbo-Visma will have to control the peloton in the first half of the stage but they will be happy for a break to go and help from the sprinters' teams. 

After Vingegaard's triumphant two stages with a dominant time trial and even more commanding performance on the Col de la Loze he'll relish a quiet day of sitting in the peloton.

1.5km to the start reel. The riders are packed tight now, so we expected attacks. 

Interestingly, Giulio Ciccone is up front. He will want to get into the break to score the few KOM points on offer on the two Cat 4 climbs. 

He needs every point before Saturday's final mountain stage. Cicco has 88 points, Felix Gall has 82 and Vingegaard has 81.

Allez! Christian Prudhomme waves the flag and we're off!

Asgreen is the first to surge clear. Two riders join him. 

He is joined by Victor Campenaerts and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X). 

They are going away as some in the peloton try to block the road. 

The gap is up to 35 seconds.

Will anyone try to jump across? 

Of course they will. 

TotalEnergies try to spark a move. 

The peloton have locked down the counter attacks. 

The gap is up to 1:40.

The three up the road are Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny).

Jayco, DSM and Alpecin are ready to lead the peloton and so keep the break in check. 

This was the moment Asgreen sparked the break.

170km to go

The peloton has pegged the three attacks to 1:30.

It's 29C out on the road and so the Vittel moto comes up to feed the three riders in the break.

Their team cars have been sent up but the gap is dropping, so we could soon see sa change in the race scenario.  

The pace is high but steady, the peloton is lined out but a lot of riders seem happy to stay in the slipstream after the fatigue of yesterday. 

The gap to the break continues to fall. 

The three seem to have lost the desire to go on the attack.  

The attackers are pushing big gears but their lead is down to 1:00 and so the team cars are pulled-out.

Jasper Philipsen has beren back to his team car and seems calm and collected for the stage.

155km to go

The riders are racing across the valley road on pan flat roads. 

A few riders have stopped for natural break but the gap remains at 1:00. 

The peloton is keeping the break on a short lease today.

The calm in the stage allows us to catch-up with the latest news and look back at the anarchy of stage 17. It truly was anarchy in the Alps.  

150km to go

Wout Van Aert did not start stage 18 and headed back to Belgium to be with his wife Sarah, who is due to give birth to their second child shortly.

The news was confirmed by a Jumbo-Visma Tweet on Thursday morning prior to the largely flat stage from Moutiers to Bourg-en-Bresse.

In a video put out by the team on Twitter, Van Aert said: “As everyone knows Sarah is pregnant. In consultation with the team, we have decided that my place is at home. We have been seeing the doctor at home and he has assessed that labour is imminent.”

Van Aert is the first Jumbo-Visma rider to leave the Tour this year. He leaves the race at a point where leader Jonas Vingegaard is in a very strong position overall, dominating the race after the time trial stage and the Queen stage over the  Col  de la Loze. 

A lot happened yesterday. 

Pello Bilbao did not win the stage but was in the attack. However he was warned by the UCI commissaires after punching a spectator while racing up the Col de la Loze on stage 17.

The Bahrain Victorious rider was caught on camera hitting out at a fan with his right hand as he raced towards the summit of the Tour's highest peak along with Chris Harper (Jayco-AlUla) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ).

A fan was running alongside Harper, just in front of Bilbao, as the breakaway trio battled their way up the final 3km of the HC-rated climb inside the final 10km of the stage, leaving the Basque rider with no space to move into. As he sought to move past Harper, he swiped out at the fan before racing on.

Australian broadcaster SBS zoomed in on the incident.

140km to go

The break rolls on, 1:10 ahead of the peloton. 

Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) are playing cat and mouse with each other.  

Both groups are riding but also easing off, to save their legs. Yet the average speed for the first hour is  43.8km/h.  

Behind, DSM, Jayco and are leading the chase.

Behind them the big GC teams are lined out behind in formation, protecting each other.

A sign of how controlled the stage is? 

Race leader Jonas Vingegaard has time to wave to the camera and blow a kiss. 

130km to go

We can also see Tadej Pogacar in the peloton. 

He has bandages on his right shin and right elbow after his fall yesterday. However he said it had little to do with his terrible day. 

8km or so from the top of the Col de la Loze, where the gradient stiffened towards 9%, Tadej Pogačar made his admission of defeat.

"I'm gone, I'm dead," Pogačar told his UAE Team Emirates. 

Guided by UAE Team Emirates teammate Marc Soler, Pogačar endeavoured to limit the gap, but he was still nearly six minutes down at the line. 

His podium position remains secure for now but the widening of the GC gap between himself and Jonas Vingegaard has gone from 10 seconds on Monday to a daunting 1:48 on Tuesday, then to a staggering 7:35 by Wednesday evening.

UAE and Pogačar were seemingly at a loss to explain what had gone so badly wrong on the Loze.

“I don’t know what happened,” Pogačar said afterwards. 

“I tried to eat as much as possible but it was like nothing would go into my legs, everything stayed in my stomach. I was feeling so empty after three and a half hours. If I didn’t have such great support around me, I was thinking I could lose the podium today."

The echoes of Pogačar’s sudden loss of power on the Col du Granon in the 2022 Tour, which also cost him the race against Vingegaard, were unmistakable. But the Slovenian said what happened 12 months ago, when he lost just under three minutes to the Dane on the Granon rather than nearly double that on Wednesday at Courchevel, was far less serious.

“Even the stage to the Granon was better,” Pogačar said. “Today was one of the worst days of my life on the bike."

Click below to read the whole of Pogacar's reaction in a special story by Alasdair Fotheringham from France.

Tadej Pogacar: Today was worse than the Col de Granon stage in the 2022 Tour de France

120km to go

Back to today's stage, the break passes the summit of the Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut climb. 

It's only 1.6km long at 4.3% but hurts Simon Geschke (Cofidis), who was suffering yesterday and finished just a few seconds inside the time cut.

Currently 1:05 between the three-man break and the peloton.

Abrahamsen led the break across the top of the climb – no impact on the polka dot jersey, obviously.

A point for the Norwegian at the top, his second KOM point of the Tour.

A look at the three men out front today.

dsm-firmenich, Jayco-AlUla, Alpecin-Deceuninck all lined up at the head of the peloton.

Simon Geschke reportedly back in the peloton now after dropping on that climb. He battling on through the Tour – hopefully he makes it Paris.

110km to go

The break losing some time as they head uphill on an unclassified climb. 50 seconds now.

A tight leash for the breakaway men – the sprint squads want to be certain of a bunch finish in Bourg-en-Bresse today.

There's a very long way to go so surely the peloton will let the gap go out a little more again. They don't want to make the catch a long way out and risk counter-attacks.

28km to go until the day's second and final climb, the fourth-category Côte de Boissieu.

Still all calm in the race as the riders edge towards the 100km to go mark.

100km to go

A 42kph average speed as the break passes the milestone.

The gap to the break steady at just under a minute currently.

No stresses for this man, race leader Jonas Vingegaard, today after a very intense couple of days of racing. His team not having to work, either, with no interest in a sprint.

Asgreen, Campenaerts, Abrahamsen continue on at 55 seconds up. It doesn't look like they'll get any more leeway as the Norwegian drops back to his team car for some refreshments.

80km to go

The riders climb the Côte de Boissieu, the second categorised climb of the stage.  

Suddenly the race comes alive! 

Two Lotto Dstny riders are trying to go across to the attack. 

Now Anthony Turgis tries a move. 

The Alpecin team is trying to control things for Philipsen but the speed is high and the climb is hurting lots of legs.

Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) are still clear at the summit. 

Behind Philipsen tries to bully rival Pascal Eenkhoorn from attacking. 

That's not nice or sporting from Philipsen.

I'm sure the VAR Video Assist Referee will look at that closely. 

75km to go

The gap to the trio is 45 seconds but the attacks keep coming from the peloton.

Lotto are attacking again and again. They don't like the status quo.

Sadly Simon Geschke has abandoned the Tour due to sickness.

He suffered to finish inside the time zone yesterday and was struggling today despite the steady pace. 

This is the Philipsen move on Eenkhoorn. Not nice.

65km to go

Eenkhoorn goes again. This time he's alone, so nobody can cut him up as he tries to go across to the break. 

Other riders are also jumping from the peloton.

Jayco and Alpecin are leading the peloton.

DSM are also keen to help the chase. They're hoping Sam Welsford can have a clear run in the sprint and land a win. 

There is an attack in the attack. Campenaerts dropped back to help Eenkhoorn come across but took a while to get to Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X)

55km to go

The peloton is still chasing hard but the gap is up to 45 seconds.

This stage could a game of chase all the way to the finish.

51km to go

The break surges through the intermediate sprint, with Jonas Abrahamsen winning it ahead of Eenkhoorn.

Behind the peloton is not overly aggressive and Philipsen wins the sprint for fifth place.
 

Philipsen scored 11 points there and so extended his total to 334. 

Bryan Coquard is second with 188 points and Mads Pedersen is third with 186. 

Philipsen and Alpecin have dominated the green jersey compeition thanks to their four stage wins. Will they take a fifth in 47km?  

This was the break before Eenkhoorn joined the break. 

The peloton is chasing hard but stay in control, despite a headwind.

40km to go

The rider on the front of the peloton is putting big watss to fight the constant headwind, while everyone else can sit on the wheels.   

This is the map of the finish. It shows the final five kilometres from the top-right. 

The late left corner and then the sweeping bend inside the final kilometre will be vital.

The final 750 metres are on a straight road that is only 6.50 metres wide. 

That will allow riders to come from behind but as always, positioning and a clean run to the line will be vital.

30km to go

Victor Campenaerts is giving it big licks in the break to keep the quartet clear.

They lead by 45 seconds. Surely the peloton won't mess up and let them get away. 

Indeed Lidl-Trek have moved up and are helping the chase. 

25km to go

The speed is up as the sprint teams gather up near the front. 

There hasn't been a big, high-speed bunch sprint for eight days and none of the sprint teams want to miss a chance to win.

The winds will be a factor today, it is stronger in the final kilometres on some of the exposed fields of central France.

Meanwhile the GC riders and yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard are staying protected on the wheels in the centre of the pack. 

They just have to hope there are on late punctures or late crashes between now and kilometre -3, when riders are given the same time as the group they were in, if there's a problem. 

20km to go

Victor Campenaerts is tucking low and going deep whenever he is on the front. 

He's a worry to the sprint teams behind. 

The gap is still 45 seconds.

There is a slight climb very soon and that will help the peloton with the chase.

Lidl-Trek, Alpecin and Jayco continue to work on the front but teams are also playing games, none of the sprint teams want to put their lead out train on the front too early. 

That could help the break. This will be close, very close.

Julian Alaphilippe has moved up to the front, to perhaps try to slow the chase. 

Will any of the sprint domestiques tell him to get out of the way? 

For now Philipsen, his lead out Mathieu van der Poel are sat deep in the peloton. 

15km to go

The gap is still 30 seconds. Not much but perhaps enough. 

As we mentioned Jumbo-Visma have moved near the front to protect Vingegaard in the final kilometres.

Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), Victor Campenaerts  and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny) lead by 30 seconds but they're losing seconds with each kilometre.  

They have a slight downhill to help them now as the sprint teams still hold off a little. 

Victor Campenaerts has been awarded  the Prix de la Combativité but is riding so that Lotto Dstny can win the stage.  

12km to go

The gap is down to 23 seconds. 

10km to go

It's still 23 seconds as some of the sprint teams run out if chase riders.

Alaphilippe and Tim Declercq are at the front, letting Mattias Skjelmose stay on the front.

8km to go

The four attackers still lead by 24 seconds.

The sprint teams will soon have to make big decisions and sacrifice some lead out riders.

Intermarche move up for Girmay. Jayco have also committed a fresh rider. 

The riders climb a rise but the gap is still 22 seconds.

My oh my, this will be close.

Up front the four continue to work together and drive to the finish, they know there is no chance for solo attacks until the very end.

5km to go

Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), Victor Campenaerts  and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny) are selling their skins dearly today. 

They could even still break the sprinter's hearts.  

The four lead by 12 seconds.

Nils Politt is on the front for Bora, putting down high watts at speed. 

This could make the difference.

Jumbo are lined-out behind Politt but they surely won't chase hard to keep Vingegaard safe. 

3km to go

Just 10 seconds now. 

There are some roundabouts and turns coming up. 

Now the sprinters need to move up.

Bahrain also hit the front. 

1.5km to go

The peloton can see them but not yet catch the four.

Cornering speed will be decisive. The four could get in the way of the sprint.

1km to go

Here we go!

They're going to stay away! 

Campenaerts lead it out.

Here they come! 

They do it! Asgreen wins the stage from the break!

That's a big win for Soudal and for the break. 

A lesson in bike racing, that you should never give up.

Asgreen celebrates with his Soudal teammates and slumps to the ground after his huge effort.

The breakaway stayed clear by less than ten metres!

Campenaerts made one last long pull and that perhaps mde the difference.

This is the winning shot. The sprinters are all behind him. 

Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny) was second and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X). third. 

Campenaerts was swept up by the sprinters but even put himself in the traffic to disrupt them slightly. 

Philipsen won the bunch sprint but only for fourth place.

Asgreen let out a roar when he won.

Asgreen has won the Tour of flanders but this is his first Tour de France win. 

This is how the break stayed away and Asgreen won it.

Kasper Asgreen was emotional after his win.

"I really couldn't have done it without Pascal, Victor and Jonas," he said sportingly.  

"They all did amazing out there. We all deserved to win with the work we put out there. I'm really happy to come away with the win.

"It means so much - with the period I had the last year with my crash in the Tour de Suisse and having to leave the Tour de France last year. I've come a long way." 

Asgreen was not sure if the attack would stay away but committed to it. 

"Obviously the situation was not ideal. I would have preferred to have gone with six, seven or eight (riders) but it's also the last week of the Tour and we're coming off some really hard weeks," he explained. 

"We've seen it before that even a small group can manage to cheat the sprinters' teams. I didn't rule it out. It was a team time trial to the finish."

Asgreen dedicated his win to a special friend.

"I want to dedicate it to all the people who helped me throughout the last year. I would also like to dedicate it to Dries (Devenyns)," he said of his Soudal teammate who recently announced he will retire at the end of the season. 

"It's his last Tour in his last season. He was really emotional, so I would like to dedicate it to him, his wife and his family and all the people who helped me in the last year."

Our photographers shot of the close finish are superb.

The sprinters were close but not close enough.

There is no reaction from the sprint teams yet. They and their DS will not be happy, they let  chance of victory slip their grasp. 

Asgreen is on the podium, a huge smile across his face. 

This is the final kilometre.

Jonas Vingegaard finished safely in the peloton and so kepes the yellow jersey again.

Click below to see the latest GC standings after stage 18.

The current GC standings at the 2023 Tour de France after stage 18

Asgreen and his Soudal teammates understandably celebrated after their win.

They have been under pressure after Fabio Jakobsen crashed and abandoned and Julian Alaphilippe struggled but the big Dane pulled it off. 

Kasper Asgreen dedicated his win to teammate Dries Devenyns. 

To read Daniel Ostanek's full stage report and to see our growing photo gallery of all the action, click below. 

Tour de France: Kasper Asgreen seizes stage 18 victory from all-day breakaway

Thanks for joining us today for our unique live coverage. 

Join us on Friday for full live coverage of stage 19 from Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny.

The 172km hilly stage seems perfect for a breakaway and so we're expecting some intense racing all day.