Key events
14km to go: “Wonderful to see the photos from people at the side of the route,” emails Craig. “Does anyone have advice on how to get there and watch the race live on a mountain next year? I literally don’t know where to start (other than: go to France)!”
I’ve never been to a mountain stage (although it isn’t hard: go to France is a great start). I did do a day trip for stage 2 this year, won by Mathieu van der Poel, in Boulougne-sur-Mer. Ferry from Dover to Calais and about a 45km ride to the finish. Easy, cheap and fun …
14.5km to go: Jorgenson now joins forces with the Vingegaard/Pogi group. So Visma have four riders there: Simon Yates, Kuss, Jorgenson and Vingegaard.
However, Jorgenson looks cooked, and is already losing contact with the group led by Simon Yates.
15km to go: “I don’t know what Visma was thinking, letting Jorgenson run up the road like that,” emails Stephen. “They had Pogi isolated and even if he was Pogi-strong, they could have kept that pressure on. Silly mistake now that they’ve ordered Jorgenson to wait and have allowed Yates and Narvaes into the yellow jersey group. Pogacar is going to punish Visma for this.”
16km to go: O’Connor attacks Rubio and rides away. It’s an impressively concerted attack, and Rubio cannot respond. But now the two GC favourites both have plenty of support in the group behind, you would have to fancy a stage win for Pogacar or Vingegaard.
16.5km to go: We have 13 riders in Pogacar’s group. Simon Yates (Visma Lease A Bike) leads the way, with Sepp Kuss is second wheel. There has been a sort-out after the previous climb, when Kuss and S Yates both lost touch with their leader. Pogacar has Jhonathan Narvaez and Adam Yates for company, having previously been alone.
17.5km to go: One final push, then, for riders and live-bloggers alike. The yellow jersey group is 3min 09sec behind the two in front, O’Connor and Rubio, who are putting in a massive effort to try and cling on to this lead all the way to the finish.
Will we see GC drama in the next 45 mins or so?
19km to go: Does Pogacar want the stage win? I mean, of course he does, but things are working out nicely for him at the moment, barring any major surprises on this long final ascent.
The gruppetto, consisting of 66 riders including Milan, Merlier and Groenewegen, is 26min 18sec behind the front of the race.
20km to go: Rubio leads O’Connor with the front pair working together on the road up to the ski resort. O’Connor stamps on his pedals and comes past his rival/ally. The yellow jersey group is more than three minutes behind the two leaders.
20.5km to go: Lipowitz has nearly caught Jorgenson. Jorgenson, as stated, has slowed up so he can join forces with his team leader Vingegaard. The crowds are getting bigger as the group of favourites winds its way up this ludicrously long final climb.
21km to go: “What I understand from reading these updates (I am in Western US, and I cannot watch) is Vingegaard/Visma is not attacking,” writes Stephanie. “Disappointing. I was hoping for a massive show of strength from him (Just to make it interesting.)”
Visma did accelerate on the Col de la Madeleine, the second climb, and they have isolated Pogacar, who is in the group of favourites on the final climb without a teammate. But Pogacar looks too strong (from a Visma point of view) and seems easily able to cover the attacks that have come so far.
22km to go: It appears that Jorgenson was not dropped, but instead is waiting to join forces with his team leader Vingegaard.
23.5km to go: Ben O’Connor is setting a punishing pace on the front. Rubio and the Australian have now forged ahead without Jorgenson.
Lipowitz continues to toil up the climb on his own, more than two minutes in front of the group with Pog, Vin and Onley.
24km to go: Pogacar just looks too strong, does he not? Perhaps this will soften him up for another go by Visma-Lease A Bike tomorrow … but at the moment it’s hard to see Vingegaard being strong enough to make much of a dent, if anything at all, in Pogacar’s commanding GC lead.
24.5km to go: The Onley group has joined up with the Pogacar/Vingegaard group. So it’s 19 riders together there, the third group on the road, counting Lipowitz in between them and the front three.
25km to go: David emails: “Re: the time cut, in 2001 in Pontarlier (where we are going on Stage 20) a breakaway group of fourteen were 35 minutes ahead of the peloton, who should have been out of the race according to a strict application of the rules.
“The peloton was allowed to continue in the race.”
Good knowledge, thanks.
26.4km to go: The leaders hit the base of the final climb. Lipowitz is still trying to get across to the three leaders.
“Vingegaard can’t see the pace early in the climb,” points out Kelly on commentary, regarding the battle for the yellow jersey. “Because that way, Pogacar gets an easy ride.”
A news report from Jeremy Whittle:
David Rozman, a long-term member of Ineos Grenadiers staff, has left the Tour de France after the International Testing Agency launched an investigation into alleged messages he exchanged in 2012 with subsequently convicted German doping doctor Mark Schmidt.
The allegations stem from a recent documentary made by German TV outlet ARD, which linked Rozman to Schmidt, with further media reports including alleged texts between the Ineos staff member and Schmidt from June 2012 when the team was racing as Team Sky.
29.5km to go: Lipowitz, clearly, is feeling good, despite apparently struggling on the second big climb. He has nearly bridged across to the lead group of three, to join O’Connor, Jorgenson and Rubio.
31km to go: “We’re on the slopes below the Col de la Loze in Saint Bon Tarentaise,” emails Ian.
“We’ve just enjoyed a swag-fest from the publicity caravan. Hats, shirts, sausages, olive oil, Sweets, drinks and general tat. All part of the tour … Vive la Caravan.”
Thanks for your email. Enjoy the race, and the swag.
32km to go: Lipowitz attacks solo!
33km to go: A spot of rain on the final climb, according to reports.
34km to go: At the back of the race, the gruppetto is 25min down.
“If say 66 riders finished outside the time limit, would they still be able to stay in the race?” asks Mark. “Does the group size matter?”
I am sure they have given special dispensation, in the past, to big groups that have missed the time cut.
36km to go: A flat section now leading into the final climb. It’s over a minute’s gap for the leading group: O’Connor, Jorgenson, Rubio. 1min 19 sec.
38km to go: “This is not a good situation for Visma-Lease A Bike,” says Sean Kelly on commentary. “They were doing a perfect job until now. But they are giving riders recovery time before the final climb.
“They have to see if they can break Pogacar on the final climb.”
40km to go: Three riders, O’Connor, Jorgenson and Rubio, are clear on their own now, with a 40sec gap. Pogacar, Vingegaard, Lipowitz, Roglic, Gall and Arensman have joined forces behind. It’ll be Roglic v Lipowitz going head to head on the final climb then? Along with Pogacar and Vingegaard.
43km to go: Lipowitz and Arensman are working together, 45sec down on the leaders. The Onley group, nine riders, are now nearly three minutes down on the leaders.
We will see a reshuffle in the top 10 of GC tonight, and it looks possible that Roglic will take third overall heading into the final three stages. Unless of course his teammate Lipowitz can produce a massive ride on the Col de la Loze.
45km to go: Going far beyond the call of duty, Amy has also sent a great photo of her current location over in France:
47km to go: “Those descents are terrifying,” emails Tim. “I’ve fantasised about winning the polka-dot jersey since I became a Claudio Chiappucci fanboy in the early 90s.
“Back then I reckoned I could do the climbs if I glugged enough Lucozade Sport beforehand, but I always knew deep down I was too much of a wimp to descend at the required warp speed. I’d be screaming for my mum all the way down. Unedifying.”
49km to go: “Bonjour from Col de la Loze!” emails someone familiar to you all: Amy Sedghi.
“I’ve taken a week off from Guardian live-blogging to see the Tour de France in real life! Myself, my husband James and our friend Pete are sat about 3km from the summit of the Col de la Loze and the atmosphere here is building. The sun is out, the flags are flying and the scenery is stunning. Can’t wait to see the riders coming through! Allez, Allez!”
Have a wonderful time Amy. Enjoy.
52km to go: The commentators and pundits continue to speculate about Lenny Martinez and his naughty sticky bottles on the Col du Glandon. If he was going to be kicked out of the race, it would have happened already, but perhaps the powers that be will dock him some KOM points for clearly taking repeated assistance from the team car?