Jonas Vingegaard moves closer to 2022 Tour de France title after claiming last mountain stage
The Dane triumphed for the second time during this race to extend his overall lead on Tadej Pogacar to 3 minutes and 26 seconds with three stages remaining.
Cycling Road
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) is closer to winning the road cycling's 2022 Tour de France after triumphing on stage 18 on Thursday (21 July).
The Dane finished solo atop the Hautacam climb and now leads Tadej Pogacar in the overall standings by almost three and a half minutes with just three stages remaining.
Vingegaard resisted several attacks from the Slovenian and, on the final ascent, he dropped the two-time defending champion with just over 4 kilometres to go, crossing the finish line over one minute ahead of his rival.
"This is incredible, this morning I said to my girlfriend and my daughter that I wanted to win for them and I did it," the yellow jersey holder said.
"I'm really happy and proud that I won for them. It's really for my two girls at home."
On Friday the Tour will move away from the Pyrenees as the riders take on the 188.3km flat stage from Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors.
READ: Everything you need to know about this year's Tour de France.
READ: Jonas Vingegaard: From fisherman to Grand Tour contender
2022 Tour de France: Stage 18 results - Thursday 21 July
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 3:59:50
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +1:04
- Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +2:10
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:53
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +2:58
2022 Tour de France: General classification standings after Stage 18 on Thursday 21 July
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 71:53:54
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +3:26
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +8:00
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +11:05
- Nairo Quintana (Team Arkea Samsic) +13:25
Schedule and stage winners: Day-by-day route of 2022 Tour de France
Fri 1 July: Stage 1 – Copenhagen-Copenhagen (time trial, 13.2 km) - Won by Yves Lampaert (Belgium), who also took the yellow jersey for overall lead of the race's general classification.
Sat 2 July: Stage 2 – Roskilde-Nyborg (202.5 km) - Won by Fabio Jakobsen (Netherlands). Wout van Aert (Belgium) claimed overall race lead.
Sun 3 July: Stage 3 – Vejle-Sonderborg (182 km) - Won by Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands). Wout van Aert (Belgium) retained overall race lead.
Mon 4 July: Transfer Day - from Denmark to France.
Tue 5 July: Stage 4 – Dunkerque-Calais (171.5 km) - Won by Wout van Aert (Belgium), who retained overall race lead.
Wed 6 July: Stage 5 – Lille Metropole-Arenburg Porte du Hainaut (157 km) - Won by Simon Clarke (Australia), Wout van Aert (Belgium) retained overall race lead.
Thu 7 July: Stage 6 – Binche-Longwy (220km) - Won by Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia), who took the overall race lead.
Fri 8 July: Stage 7 – Tomblaine-La Super Planche de Belles Filles (176.5 km) - Won by Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia), who increased his overall lead
Sat 9 July: Stage 8 – Dole-Lausanne (186.5km) - Won by Wout van Aert (Belgium), who increased his green jersey classification lead.
Sunday 10 July: Stage 9 – Aigle-Chatel les Portes du Soleil (193km) - Won by Bob Jungels (Luxembourg), who claimed his first Le Tour stage victory.
Monday 11 July: Rest Day
Tuesday 12 July: Stage 10 – Morzine Les Portes du Soleil-Megeve (148.5km) - Won by Magnus Cort (Denmark), Tadej Pogacar hangs on his overall lead.
Wednesday 13 July: Stage 11 – Albertville-Col du Granon Serre Chevalier (152km) - Won by Jonas Vingegaard, who claimed the yellow jersey.
Thursday 14 July: Stage 12 – Briancon-Alpe d’Huez (165.5km) - Won by Tom Pidcock, Jonas Vingegaard keeps overall lead.
Friday 15 July: Stage 13 – Le Bourg d’Oisans-Saint Etienne (193km) - Won by Mads Pedersen. Jonas Vingegaard keeps overall lead.
Saturday 16 July: Stage 14 – Saint Etienne-Mende (192.5km) - Won by Michael Matthews (Australia).
Sunday 17 July: Stage 15 – Rodez-Carcassonne (202.5km) - Won by Jasper Philipsen (Belgium).
Monday 18 July: Rest Day
Tuesday 19 July: Stage 16 – Carcassonne-Foix (178,5km) - Won by Hugo Houle (Canada)
Wednesday 20 July: Stage 17 – Saint-Gaudens-Peyragudes (130km) - Won by Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia). Jonas Vingegaard keeps overall lead.
Thursday 21 July: Stage 18 – Lourdes-Hautacam (143.5km) - Won by Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark)
Friday 22 July: Stage 19 – Castelnau-Magnoac – Cahors (188.5km)
Saturday 23 July: Stage 20 – Lacapelle-Marival - Rocamadour (time trial, 40.7km)
Sunday 24 July: Stage 21 – Paris La Defence Arena – Paris Champs Elysees (116km)