Michal Kwiatkowski led a superb Ineos Grenadiers one-two on stage 18 to help salvage their Tour de France as Primoz Roglic took a step closer to the title.
Poland’s Kwiatkowski and team-mate Richard Carapaz crossed the line arm-in-arm after riding away from the rest of the field on a tough mountain stage.
Roglic and his Jumbo-Visma team held off any attacks as he maintained his 57-second lead with three stages to go.
Britain’s Adam Yates slipped from fifth to seventh overall.
Former world champion Kwiatkowki’s first ever individual Grand Tour stage victory capped a strong showing by Ineos since defending champion Egan Bernal dropped out of contention before abandoning after stage 16.
The British team have been active in the breakaways, with Carapaz coming close on both stage 16 and 17, before Kwiatkowski secured their first win of the 2020 Tour.
“That was some day – I can’t describe how grateful I am to the whole team and Richard. I will never forget that,” said Kwiatkowski.
“I’ve had some nice moments in cycling but that was something new. I had goosebumps for the final kilometres because I knew we were going to make it. It was incredible.”
More to follow.
Stage 18 result
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol/Ineos Grenadiers) 4hrs 47mins 33secs
2. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time
3. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) +1min 51secs
4. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) +1min 53secs
5. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) Same time
6. Richie Porte (Aus/Trek-Segafredo) +1min 54secs
7. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) Same time
8. Mikel Landa (Spa/Bahrain McLaren)
9. Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain McLaren)
10. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Jumbo-Visma)
General classification after stage 18
1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 79hrs 45mins 30secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +57secs
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana) +1mins 27secs
4. Richie Porte (Aus/Trek-Segafredo) +3mins 06secs
5. Mikel Landa (Spa/Bahrain McLaren) +3mins 28secs
6. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +4mins 19secs
7. Adam Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) +5mins 55secs
8. Rigoberto Uran (Col/EF Pro Cycling) +6mins 05secs
9. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Jumbo-Visma) +7mins 24secs
10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +12mins 12secs
