Stage 18
La Cruz de Linares
- Thursday 14 September 2023
- 180 km
- 4,624 m climbed
- Won by Remco Evenepoel
The road
At the start
Eight seconds, and Linares twice
The Angliru left Sepp Kuss holding red by eight seconds from Jonas Vingegaard, with Primož Roglič at 1:08 and the best rider outside Jumbo-Visma four minutes back. Today is the last mountain stage of the race: 180 kilometres and 4,624 metres of climbing in Asturias, ending with a double ascent of the Puerto de la Cruz de Linares — narrow, twisting, and surfaced in places with rough cement.
How it was won
- 29 km to go
Evenepoel goes solo
On the first ascent of the Cruz de Linares Evenepoel accelerates 4km from the top, dropping Caruso then Poole to ride away alone with 29km to go.
- 10 km to go
Two minutes clear
His advantage swells to two minutes as the GC peloton languishes eleven minutes back, the stage win all but assured.
- 3 km to go
Landa probes
On the final climb Landa jumps with Ayuso and Mas, but Vingegaard and Roglič smother the move for their leader Kuss.
- At the line
La Cruz de Linares
Evenepoel soloes to a third stage win and seals the mountains jersey; the Jumbo-Visma podium sweep is locked in.
The result
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remco Evenepoel | Soudal Quick-Step | 4:47:37 |
| 2 | Damiano Caruso | Bahrain - Victorious | +4:44 |
| 3 | Andreas Kron | Lotto Dstny | +5:10 |
The route on real terrain, every moment pinned to the kilometre it happened on — and the GPX to ride it yourself.