Tour de France 2018 Stage 16: Julian Alaphilippe solos to victory, Geraint Thomas still in maillot jaune

At 218 kilometres, the Tour de France's 16th stage heads into the Pyrenees. On the last of three climbs, Adam Yates attacks in the front group, but he hits the deck on the descent. Julian Alaphilippe overhauls him and solos to the win in Bagnères-de-Luchon. The GC group finishes bunched, so Geraint Thomas is still leading the Tour de France ahead of Chris Froome and Tom Dumoulin. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage 2018 Tour de France

1. Julian Alaphilippe (fra)
2. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.15
3. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
4. Bauke Mollema (nld) z.t
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.18
6. Robert Gesink (nld) + 0.37
7. Michael Valgren (den) + 0.56
8. Gregor Mühlberger (ger) s.t.
9. Marc Soler (spa) + 1.10
10. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.18

GC riders at 8.52

GC after the 16th stage
1. Geraint Thomas (gbr)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.39
3. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.50
4. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.38
5. Romain Bardet (fra) + 3.21
6. Mikel Landa (spa) + 3.42
7. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 3.57
8. Nairo Quintana (col) + 4.23
9. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 6.14
10. Daniel Martin (irl) + 6.54

11. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 9.36
12. Bob Jungels (lux) + 9.53
13. Piere Latour (fra) + 9.54
14. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 10.13

Race report
A lot of movement once the flag drops, but nothing sticks until a roadside protest stops the caravan for a while. Once the riders are back on their bikes the attacks continue, but it takes 100 kms for a huge break to stay clear. Aboard are Adam Yates, Warren Barguil, Tejay van Garderen, Julian Alaphilippe, Ion Izagirre, Robert Gesink, Bauke Mollema, Andrey Amador, Marc Soler, Gorka Izagirre, Greg Van Avermaet, Jelle Vanendert, Mathias Frank, Philippe Gilbert, Michael Valgren, Tom Jelte-Slagter, Gregor Mühlberger, Damiano Caruso, Kristijan Durasek and Søren Kragh Andersen. Pierre Latour, Guillaume Martin and Nils Politt track them down to make it 47 men at the the front.

With a lead of almost 9 minutes the leaders tackle the Col de Portet d’Aspet – 5,4 kilometer à 7,1%. Gilbert goes solo to reach the crest 1 minute ahead of Alaphilippe who bests Barguil in the sprint for KOM points. Gilbert crashes on the descent, but he is able to continue, although his lead is gone. (After the race he is diagnosed with a fracture to his left kneecap, which forces him to abandon.)

Barguil kicks on the Col de Menté, while Gesink and Caruso rejoin him. They drop the French rider before they are brought back before the top. Alaphilippe pockets most KOM points.

Back in the valley the front group features Gesink, Caruso, Alaphilippe, Mollema, Mühlberger, Pozzovivo, Latour, Yates, Vanendert, Izagirre (Gorka), Soler, Valgren, Martin, Molard, Frank, Barguil, and Amador. So with 17 men they tackle the Col du Portillon: 8.3 kilometres at 7.1%. Barguil is dropped early on before Valgren strikes with Molard in his wheel. Gesink counter-attacks and Pozzovivo joins him. Mollema is first to track them down, Yates, Izagirre and Soler are next, and Alaphilippe is the last rider to hook on.

Yates goes solo with 3 kms to climb. Alaphilippe goes after him in the last km to crest the top 20 seconds later. Yates crashes on descent and the Frenchman flies past him before the unfortunate Brit joins Izagirre, Mollema and Pozzovivo. Alaphilippe wins the stage, while Izagirre takes the sprint for second place ahead of Yates.

The top of the GC remains the same, so Geraint Thomas retains the yellow jersey.