Asgreen Surprises Sprint Specialists While Vingegaard Holds on to Overall Lead

Kasper Asgreen surprised the sprint specialists and secured victory in the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, concluding a lengthy breakaway and earning the first win for his Soudal Quick-Step team in this year's race.

Denmark's Asgreen, the winner of the 2021 Tour of Flanders, executed his final effort with perfect timing, just as the peloton was closing in on the four breakaway riders during the 185-km ride from Moutiers. He outpaced Dutchman Pascal Eenkhoorn and Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen, who finished second and third, respectively.

Shortly after Asgreen crossed the finish line, Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen won the bunch sprint, narrowly missing his chance for a fifth victory in this year's Tour.

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark maintained his hold on the yellow jersey as the overall leader.

Asgreen was part of a four-man breakaway that formed early in the stage, but Philipsen's Alpecin-Deceuninck team never allowed them to gain more than a minute and a half advantage. As the peloton closed in, Asgreen's teammates took turns at the front, slowing down the pace to increase the breakaway's chances.

Within the four-man group, Belgian rider Victor Campenaerts expended all his energy in an attempt to set up his Lotto-Dstny teammate Eenkhoorn for a last-minute sprint. However, Asgreen proved to be stronger, launching his effort about 200 meters from the finish line to secure his first grand tour stage win, capitalizing on the peloton's fatigue following the challenging stage in the Alps on Wednesday.

"Obviously, the situation was not ideal. I would have liked to go with more riders, but it's the last week of the Tour," said Asgreen. "It's not the first time that a small group manages to beat the sprinters' team. I believed in my chances."

In the overall standings, Vingegaard maintains a lead of seven minutes and 35 seconds over Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar, with Briton Adam Yates in third place, trailing by 10 minutes and 45 seconds.

Friday's 19th stage will be a 173-km hilly stage from Moirans en Montagne to Poligny.