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BARCELONNETTE, France (AP) — Belgian cyclist Victor Campenaerts captured the biggest victory of his career Thursday in a three-man sprint on the 18th mountain stage of the Tour de France.
Two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar retained the leader’s yellow jersey and the overall standings remained unchanged with three days left.
Kamperz, who had been at the front for almost the entire day, along with Frenchman Matteo Welcher and Polish former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski, broke away from the group with 35km to go.
Kampertz, who won a stage in the 2021 Giro d’Italia, waited patiently behind his rival in the final kilometer and did not panic when Vechel launched his attack. He stayed close to Kwiatkowski until he decided to pounce from behind.
The Lotto Dstny cyclist celebrated via video call with his partner and children at the finish line.
“I had a hard time after the (Summer) Classics,” Kampertz said, trying not to cry. “I verbally agreed to renew my contract with the team, but they ignored me for a long time and it was difficult. I went to the altitude training camp with my girlfriend, who supported me every day even though I was pregnant and I was struggling to finish my training. But I changed my mind, I have a bright future in cycling, I’m a dad, everything is great.”
With three stages left, Pogacar leads two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard by 3:11. Remco Evenepoel, making his Tour debut, is 5:09 behind.
The battle between Pogacar, Vengergaard and Hennepoel is expected to return on Friday. The 19th stage to the Isola 2000 ski resort is less than 150 kilometers, which is short but difficult. The riders must climb 2,000 meters three times, including La Bonette, the highest altitude highway in France, at 2,802 meters.
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