Etixx - Quick-Step crossed in the same group, with six riders making the time cut of 186.5km Le Tour de France Stage 18 on Thursday. Zdenek Stybar was the top finisher. Romain Bardet (AG2R - La Mondiale) went solo on the descent of HC Col du Glandon (21km, 5.1%) after going ahead with Winner Anacona (Movistar).

Both were part of a large original breakaway that exploded on the climb. Bardet was able to maintain his advantage even on Category 2 Lacets de Montvernier (3.4km, 8.2%), with 18 hairpin turns on the final categorized climb of the day. He went on to win by 33" over Piere Rolland (Europcar) and Anacona by 59 seconds.

The top GC contenders crossed together, despite some attacks in the final ascents, 3'02" down from Bardet. Etixx - Quick-Step rider Mark Renshaw withdrew from the race.

Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to 138km Stage 19 on Friday. There are four high categoruy climbs to get over, but a key final moment will be Category 1 La Toussuire, the 18km finishing climb of 6.1% average gradient. However, HC Col de la Croix de Fe (22.4km, 6.9%), with a summit at kilometer 83, could cause some early fireworks.

"Yesterday at the end of the stage I came down with a migraine before the final climb, and the pain never went away overnight," Renshaw said. "I woke up with the same pain this morning. It's pain from really stiff muscles in my neck, and that pain from the stiffness has gone up into my head in the form of a migraine. It just cut all power in my legs. Every hole, every bump, every rough part of the road I could feel the pain in the back of my head with this stiffness in my neck. I've never experienced anything like that before.

"Together with the team we decided for me to stop. There is no way I could keep going like this. I already knew when I woke up this morning that it'd be hard to finish the stage. The pain was so intense and never lessened.

"It's a shame that I cannot finish this Tour de France after riding with my teammates for two and a half weeks. Especially since I was getting ready for Paris on Sunday and my legs were okay. I'm really sad about it, especially since I can't be there to help Mark Cavendish on Sunday in Paris. But I will absolutely be there on Sunday to give my full support to my teammates in any way I can, and I wish them the best of luck in these final two days in the Alps before then."