BOURG EN BRESSE, France (Reuters) -Kasper Asgreen upset the sprint specialists when the won the 18th stage of the Tour de France, a 185-km ride from Moutiers, at the end of a long breakaway to give his Soudal Quick-Step team their first victory in this year’s race on Thursday.
Asgreen, the 2021 Tour of Flanders winner, perfectly timed his final effort with the peloton breathing down the neck of the four breakaway riders.
He beat Dutchman Pascal Eenkhoorn and Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen, who were second and third, respectively.
Shortly after Asgreen crossed the line, Belgian Jasper Philipsen won the bunch sprint, having just been denied a fifth victory in this year’s Tour.
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Alex Richardson and Christian Radnedge)
