Brajkovic, Grmay best on stage 18

Manama : Bahrain’s Merida Pro Cycling Team rider, Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia) and Tsgabu Grmay (Ethiopia) finished 43rd and 44th respectively in joint times of four hours 49 minutes and three seconds on the 18th stage yesterday of the 104th Tour de France from Briancon to Izoard over 179.5km in the last of the Alps mountain range.

Brajkovic and Grmay were eight minutes and 30 seconds behind the stage winner, Frenchman Warren Barguil (4:40:33) of Team Sunweb.

During the latest stage of the tour, Bahrain’s other six riders classified were - Yukiya Arashiro (Japan. 105th, + 23:50), Javier Moreno (Spain, 109th, +25:46), Oldrej Cink (Czech Republic, 110th, 25:46), Sonny Colbrelli (Italy, 111th, +25:46), Grega Bole (Slovenia, 126th, +28:33) and Borut Bozic (Slovenia, 154th, +28:33). 

The tour resumes today with the 19th stage (and longest of the tour) taking the remaining (169) riders onto a relatively flat course from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence over 222.5km. 

Bahrain Merida positions:

Results from stage 18, a 179.5km run: 

45. J Brajkovic (SLO, one hour 57 minutes 22 seconds) 

61. Cink (CZE, 2:31:50)

72. T Grmay (ETH, + 2:36:25)

108. Y Arashiro (JPN, +3:15:17) 

120. J Moreno (ESP, +3:27:34) 

123. S Colbrelli (ITA, 3:33:28)

147. G Bole (SLO, +3:52:41)

164. B Bozic (SLO, +4:15:09)