British rider Chris Froome defends sizable lead over Alberto Contador in Stage 18 in Alps

GAP, France – The 18th stage of the Tour de France has started Thursday, with Chris Froome protecting his sizable lead over Alberto Contador on the first of three days of mammoth climbing in the Alps.

Froome won his third stage of the race in Wednesday’s Stage 17 time-trial to edge toward becoming the second British rider to win the Tour in as many years, following Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins’ success last year.

Froome is 4 minutes, 34 seconds ahead of Contador and 4:51 clear of Contador’s Saxo-Tinkoff teammate, Roman Kreuziger.

The 172.5-kilometre (107-mile) trek from Gap to L’Alpe d’Huez features two HC ascents of L’Alpe d’Huez — one of the Tour’s most famed climbs. Both of the ascents are known as HC (Hors Categorie, meaning they are so tough they are considered beyond classification).

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