Arnaud Demare was accused of cheating yesterday and bounced back today for victory at the Tour de France.
Dan Martin has Col d'Aubisque for last chance on Tour
Just 24 hours after one of his sprint rivals questioned if he had cheated, Arnaud Demare has taken victory on the Tour de France.
The Groupama-FDJ rider was quickest in the bunch gallop that settled stage 18 into Pau.
Just yesterday he had struggled to make the time cut on the 65km climbing stage, having been dropped first.
And Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), who abandoned the race last week, questioned whether Demare had made the time under his own steam.
He has since apologised for this remarks. But Demare says the apology means little as the damage is already done.
After a perfect lead-out from his team today, Demare finished the job for his first win of the race.
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And, with the fastest sprinters gone home he will have another excellent chance in Paris on Sunday.
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Today into Pau – where Martin Earley and Sean Kelly both claimed stages – Demare edged out Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates).
Kristoff’s team mate, and the only Irish rider in the race; Dan Martin finished safely in the pack after his 2nd place of yesterday.
And he now has one more chance, tomorrow, to add another win to his stage 6 victory.
Stage 19 takes the riders 200.5km from Lourdes to Laruns and includes six climbs.
With the Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aubisque on the menu, here should be some interesting racing even though there is no summit finish.
Instead the race crests the Col d'Aubisque and there is a 20km descent into the finish.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) still holds the yellow jersey. One he gets through tomorrow he has Saturday’s lumpy 31km TT before the final stage for the sprinters.
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