Roglic passes the last Alpine test

Primoz Roglic swept over the dusty gravel roads at high speed and skilfully launched himself into the fast descent, then the tour patron had also passed the last Alpine test. The metamorphosis from ski jumper to winner of the Tour de France is almost complete. Roglic is heading towards Paris with a reassuring lead after reaching the finish alongside his biggest rivals on the 18km 175th stage from Méribel to La Roche-sur-Foron on Thursday. Kwiatkowski takes stage win The day's victory went to breakaway Michal Kwiatkowski. The Polish former world champion, together with the second-placed Giro champion Richard Carapaz, ensured a double victory for the badly beaten Ineos team.

Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz at the finish. © APA/afp / STUART FRANKLIN

The preliminary decision in the fight for the day's victory came on the last climb, when the duo left the Spaniard Pello Bilbao behind. At the same time, the top duo previously benefited from a fall by the young Swiss Marc Hirschi, who fell on the descent of the Col des Saisies at 68 km / h and could no longer get close to the leading group. Second overall Tadej Pogacar briefly launched an attack on the last climb, but quickly saw the hopelessness of his endeavor. The favorites were all together and made it safely across the two kilometer long gravel road on the Plateau des Glières.

For the Ineos team, the day's victory and the mountain jersey for Carapaz were merely a consolation prize. The British star selection, which has a proud budget of around 40 million euros, actually wanted to win the tour with Egan Bernal. However, the Colombian did not take part in the queen stage on Wednesday after being far behind. Only Pogacar can endanger Roglic Before the last 325,2 kilometers to Paris, Roglic is still 57 seconds ahead of his Slovenian compatriot Pogacar. The cushion is more reassuring than it looks at first glance, because Roglic is the clear favorite in the mountain time trial on Saturday to La Planche des Belles Filles. The yellow jersey is practically ready to be picked up in the French capital.

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Roglic passes the last Alpine test

Who else should stop Primoz Roglic? Whether uphill, downhill or on gravel roads - the Slovenian drives almost unstoppably towards Paris in the yellow jersey. Former world champion Kwiatkowski wins the last Alpine stage.

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