( CNN ) -- There was French fever as Christophe Riblon won stage 18 of the Tour de France -- but it was Britain 's Chris Froome who extended his overall lead despite being handed a penalty . The famous Alpe d'Huez route asked more of the riders this year as , for the first time , the pack made a first ascent before descending back to the valley floor and then climbing the mountain for a second time . After an attacking ride , Froome fell foul of the energy-sapping conditions inside the last five kilometers of the 172-km route . The Briton sent his Sky team-mate Richie Porte back to the support car for food -- even though it is against the rules to 'feed ' inside the last 20 kilometers of a stage . Race officials handed Froome a 20-second penalty but the yellow jersey holder still stretched his lead over rival Alberto Contador to five minutes , 11 seconds . `` Richie was feeling a lot better than I was and I was running out of sugars towards the end , '' explained Froome , who is aiming to win his first Tour de France after helping Sir Bradley Wiggins to the crown last year . `` I had to ask him to go back and grab me some sugars from the car . `` I was just getting in as best I could in those last few kilometers . I 'm not sure if it made any difference at that point in the race . `` It 's a horrible feeling and I 'm just happy to have come out with more of an advantage than I had at the start of the stage . `` This was definitely one of the harder days that we 've seen in this Tour but I think that 's to be expected : two times up Alpe d'Huez and this late in the race , it 's definitely a hard day . '' With three stages left to go before the Tour reaches its climax on the streets of the French capital , Contador must also find an extra burst of energy . The Spaniard was unable to respond when Froome pushed on twice during the second ascent . `` I was n't on a good day , '' said Contador . `` It was hot and very humid . But despite my setback I 've limited my losses . I hope to have better legs in the next few days . '' The fans , many in colorful fancy-dress costumes , had squeezed along the stunning route despite the odd rain shower or two . French kisses . They were rewarded with the first French stage winner on this year 's Tour as Riblon picked off tiring American Tejay Van Garderen inside the final two kilometers . `` When I was about eight years old , I saw on the TV a victory of a cyclist at Alpe d'Huez and I hoped that one day maybe I could do it too , '' Riblon , who blew kisses to the crowd , said . `` When I saw at the start of the climb that Van Garderen attacked me I knew I could n't follow him . `` Three kilometers from the finish , I saw him and he did n't look good so I started to believe in my good stars . And I sprinted and the public supported me and I 'm in the sky ! '' The riders must endure another test of stamina on stage 19 as they face a 204-km rollercoaster ride through the mountains .
Home crowd celebrate as the wait is over for first French winner on 2013 Tour de France . Christophe Riblon makes a late strike to win grueling 18th stage . Britain 's Chris Froome extends his overall lead over Spain 's Alberto Contador . TL;DR