Victor Campenaerts wins hilly Stage 18 at Tour de France

Field Level Media|published: Thu 18th July, 12:56 2024

A signed yellow jersey awarded to legendary american cyclist Greg Lemond in the Tour de France is seen in College Cyclery in Midtown Reno on Feb. 8, 2023. The store recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of being in business. Ren College Cyclery 04

Victor Campenaerts won his first-ever Tour de France stage, coming out on top in the hilly 179.5 kilometer (100 mile) stretch from Gap to Barcelonnette in Stage 18 on Thursday.

The win for the 32-year-old from Belgium came as he sprinted past Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers team) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) in the stretch run of the stage. The Lotto Dstny rider was in tears over his career win.

Two-time champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) of Slovenia retained the yellow jersey. He is three minutes, 11 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and five minutes, nine seconds in front of Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step).

The Tour de France continues Friday with Stage 19, a hilly 144.65-kilometer mountainous route from Embrun to Isola 2000.

The race concludes Sunday.

--Field Level Media