By Emre Asikci
ISTANBUL (AA ) - Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark extended his lead in the Tour de France lead after victory Thursday in the 18th stage.
Team Jumbo-Visma's Danish cyclist finished the 143-kilometer (88-mile) ride from Lourdes to Hautacam in 3 hours, 59 minutes and 50 seconds.
Vingegaard, 25, currently leads the race in a time of 71 hours, 53 minutes and 34 seconds, ahead of United Arab Emirates Team's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar by 3 minutes and 26 seconds.
Four-time champion Chris Froome from Great Britain has been forced to pull out of Thursday’s event after testing positive for the coronavirus.
The 19th stage, a 189-kilometer (117-mile) ride, will be held Friday from Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors.
The 21-stage Tour de France will end July 24 in Paris.