Brilliant Bardet earns France second Tour stage win

Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain (R), race leader's yellow jersey, kisses an hostess on the podium after the 186.5-km (115.88 miles) 18th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Gap to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the French Alps mountains, France, July 23, 2015. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

ST JEAN DE MAURIENNE, France (Reuters) - Romain Bardet gave France a second win in this year's Tour de France as he showed his composed descending skills to clinch the 18th stage on Thursday.

The AG2r-La Mondiale rider, sixth overall in the Tour last year, timed his attack perfectly near the end of the long ascent to the col du Glandon before powering away from a breakaway group on the descent.