17 Sep 2020
INEOS Grenadiers seal 1-2 finish on stage 18
Related riders
Richard Carapaz
Michal Kwiatkowski
Tour de France - Stage 18 » Méribel › La Roche-sur-Foron, 175km
Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz completed a resounding 1-2 finish for the INEOS Grenadiers on stage 18 at the Tour de France.
The pair rode into the finish together in La Roche-sur-Foron after distancing their rivals on a big day in the mountains. Kwiatkowski crossed the line arm in arm with Carapaz, who battled hard over the five categorised climbs to move into the lead of the polka dot jersey.
Throwing everything at the breakaway, the team placed no fewer than four riders in the opening move, with Jonathan Castroviejo and Dylan van Baarle ensuring numbers at the head of the race.
As the climbs wore on, Carapaz and Kwiatkowski were able to work together, eventually dropping Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) on the Col des Gileres. They held on to finish 1:51 ahead of the chasing GC group, featuring race leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).
For Kwiatkowski the win marked his first Grand Tour stage victory, while Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian rider to pull on the polka dot jersey - leading the classification by a slender two points with three stages to go.
Throwing everything at the breakaway, the team placed no fewer than four riders in the opening move, with Jonathan Castroviejo and Dylan van Baarle ensuring numbers at the head of the race.
As the climbs wore on, Carapaz and Kwiatkowski were able to work together, eventually dropping Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) on the Col des Gileres. They held on to finish 1:51 ahead of the chasing GC group, featuring race leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).
For Kwiatkowski the win marked his first Grand Tour stage victory, while Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian rider to pull on the polka dot jersey - leading the classification by a slender two points with three stages to go.
Reaction
- Michal Kwiatkowski
"That was some day. I can’t describe how grateful I am to the whole team and also to Richard. That was an incredible day for us and I will never forget that. I’ve had some nice moments in cycling but that was something else – a new experience – I’ve had goosebumps for the last I don’t know how many kilometres. The gap was so big that we were going to make it. Both of us we really enjoyed the last kilometres. It’s incredible.
- Michal Kwiatkowski
"That was some day. I can’t describe how grateful I am to the whole team and also to Richard. That was an incredible day for us and I will never forget that. I’ve had some nice moments in cycling but that was something else – a new experience – I’ve had goosebumps for the last I don’t know how many kilometres. The gap was so big that we were going to make it. Both of us we really enjoyed the last kilometres. It’s incredible.
"Egan (Bernal) was sad when he was leaving the race but he was wishing us good luck. Hopefully he enjoyed that on the television because that was some race. Collectively we tried in the last three days everything we could to be in the breakaway and win the stage and finally today – most of us we found the best legs ever I have to say. The way we rode with Richard was just incredible.
"We’re going to celebrate big time tonight. We all deserve it after so many stages. We put on some show today and for sure we have to celebrate that."
Stage 18 result:
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) 4:47:33
2. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) s.t.
3. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +1:51"
4. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +1:53"
5. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) s.t.
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) 4:47:33
2. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) s.t.
3. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +1:51"
4. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +1:53"
5. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) s.t.
