Team Giant-Shimano got safely through today's final mountain stage and is now back in the terrain where they excel. Tomorrow the team will go all out in another attempt to give Marcel Kittel an opportunity to win the stage.

Stage 18 of Le Tour de France was the final day in the mountains and meant the final mountain test for the Team Giant-Shimano riders before the final sprint opportunities of the race. At the end of the tough 145.5km stage all the team made it to the top of the Hautacam safely within the time limit in the grupetto and can now focus on the next opportunities ahead.'

Team Giant-Shimano coach, Aike Visbeek said after the stage: “It was another good day for us today with everything under control. There were some small climbs early on before the Tourmalet and so we made sure that we were focused on being up front and the guys did that well.

“Then from there they stayed together to get into position for the bottom of the Tourmalet before riding within their limits.

“Tomorrow will not be an easy stage with a tricky final and some hills to negotiate. Depending on how Marcel has recovered from the mountains then it could be a good opportunity for him, but we have options with the different sprint formations and so we will make a good plan for the stage and aim for a good result.”

John Degenkolb added: “Well today was pretty hilly! It was fast again today as Astana didn’t want to let the group get too far ahead, but we stuck together and all finished well. Thankfully in the mountains I have been back to myself with no pain and this is a big relief as it was not good before, both physically in pain and mentally knowing that I would be suffering to just get through the day.

“Every day now we have a chance to fight for victory and this gives us a real boost as we have come through some hard days where the only focus has been on getting the team through the stage within the time limit. Now we can really focus on getting results again starting with tomorrow.”

Albert Timmer added: “Today was a good day, we made a plan to stay together to get through the early part of the stage and from there it was all OK. I was feeling good today after a bad day yesterday and so I could hold on for longer on the Tourmalet which meant that I could take it really easy on the Hautacam.

“The legs are feeling good and I am less tired than yesterday which is a good sign for the coming opportunities for the team. I am looking forward to the next few days.”

Koen De Kort added from the team bus: “Today was fine despite the fast start. I found a nice group on the Tourmalet and then when another group came back to us at the bottom of the Hautacam I sat up and waited for the grupetto with Marcel to help them finish in time.

“The feelings are still good after the past difficult days and tomorrow we will focus on a sprint again.”