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Top 10 on Stage 18
1) O’Connor 5hr 03min 47sec
2) Pogacar +1min 45sec
3) Vingegaard +1min 54sec
4) Onley +1min 58sec
5) Rubio +2min
6) Gall +2min 25sec
7) Roglic +2min 46sec
8) A Yates +3min 03sec
9) Johannessen +3min 09sec
10) Kuss +3min 26sec
Reaction and confirmation of the standings coming up …
Updated at 11.30 EDT
Roglic rolls in, a minute or so behind Pogacar. A brilliant ride from the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe man.
Now Kuss comes in. Will Onley be in third tonight? Here comes Lipowitz …
Pogacar attacks Vingegaard on the final slopes! He burns off Rubio and claims second place. The Slovenian doesn’t even stand up on the pedals, he just rides away from his rival and further strengthens his iron grip on the battle for GC.
Pogacar finished second, a handful of seconds in front of Vingegaard in third.
ShareBen O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) wins stage 18
An incredible ride from the Jayco AlUla rider. He climbs up, almost into the clouds at the ski resort of Courchevel, and claims the second Tour de France stage victory of his career. Phenomenal performance. The Australian punches the air and roars with happiness.
Updated at 11.28 EDT
500m to go: Vingegaard fails to shake off Pogacar. Plus ça change.
Oscar Onley goes with the two GC favourites! Can he make the podium?
Updated at 11.23 EDT
1km to go: Flamme rouge for O’Connor! He is still 2min 42sec ahead of the yellow jersey group!
Vingegaard attacks his rival but Pogacar immediately responds and marks his man.
1.5km to go: O’Connor of Jayco AlUla looks like a man who knows he’s got this in the bag! He rides on strongly, pumping past countless screaming fans, onwards to his fourth career win at a grand tour, and his second at the Tour de France, the greatest of them all.
Truth is, Vingegaard isn’t on bad form at all, but Pogacar is just too strong.
Updated at 11.21 EDT
2km to go: Polka-dot rain caps, doubtless given out by the publicity caravan, are the order of the day among fans on the higher slopes on the way to Courchevel.
There is a party atmosphere but we are not seeing the epic duel among the GC contenders that some hoped for.
2km to go: Rubio stands up on the pedals, presumably only trying to protect his second place, but perhaps he doesn’t know how far ahead O’Connor now is.
Unless he blows up spectacularly, O’Connor has got this in the bag, he looks really strong.
Updated at 11.17 EDT
2.7km to go: Rubio, previously dropped by O’Connor, is 2min 05sec down. The Pogacar group is 2min 50sec down on O’Connor still.
3.5km to go: Pogacar rides on, ever upwards. He looks comfortable. Narvaez, his teammate, has popped but Adam Yates is still there and is setting the pace, making everyone else suffer.
Will Roglic be able to overhaul Lipowitz in GC, after all? The German is 30sec down on his teammate.
Updated at 11.15 EDT
4km to go: Kuss and Gall are dropped as UAE continue to set the pace.
Ben O’Connor has over three minutes, still, but only just: it’s a 3min 02 sec lead on Pogacar.
Updated at 11.13 EDT
4.5km to go: Adam Yates leads Pogacar through a loud gaggle of fans. Is Pogacar about to launch? Or is he happy with the situation as it stands? It’s not like he needs any more time in GC, is it?
4.5km to go: “Visma’s tactics make absolutely no sense to me,” writes Marcus. “How did they let this get away? If Jonas needs to make up 4 minutes, why does he always wait until the very end to launch his attacks? And if you’re going to wait, why do they keep setting the pace rather than letting UAE drive?”
5km to go: Ben O’Connor already has a a Tour stage win on his palmarès – he triumphed in Tignes, another ski resort, in 2021. He also has stage victories at the Giro and Vuelta. Can he make it No 2 at the Tour? He hits a steep section with hundreds of fans yelling on either side of the road.
Updated at 11.10 EDT
6km to go: O’Connor powers on up the climb. He looks in flying form but you never know when a rider might blow up on an ascent of this difficulty. Certainly it looks like he’s eaten and drunk enough to be in great shape for a final blast up the mountain. He is holding his lead at over 3min – it’s 3min 16sec at the moment. It’s looking good!
7km to go: “Spontaneously, I’ve just booked to go to Paris for the finale on Sunday to cheer on Pogi,” writes Sally. “I’ve only booked flights and haven’t planned anything else yet – any suggestions from anyone for the best place to view?”
As it’s a new feature for the final stage, personally I’d try to get on or near the climb in Montmarte (that will be tackled three times). I guess you’d have to arrive quite early to get a good spot though. Regardless of where you are it will be very exciting to be there – enjoy.
8km to go: Still over 3min advantage for O’Connor over the yellow jersey group. This is looking good for O’Connor and Jayco-AlUla right now … but there is an attack looming from Pogacar, you feel.
O’Connor is now among a thick knot of fans on a big left-hand turn.
“If they start attacking in the next kilometre this advantage could come down very, very quickly,” remarks Kelly on commentary.
Updated at 11.03 EDT
9km to go: Narvaez and Adam Yates lead Pogacar up the mountain. This is all set up for a devastating attack from Pogacar on the steepest slopes.
Jhonatan Narvaez. Photograph: Benoît Tessier/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.00 EDT
10km to go: Roglic and Vauquelin were dropped from that group of favourites. Roglic has got back in, but the Frenchman is struggling.
O’Connor still has 3min 35sec on the Pogacar group. Immense effort.
Lipowitz is now under half a minute ahead of the group of favourites. It looked like he was in danger of dropping like a stone when he fell behind on the Col de la Madeleine, so this is a very good recovery from the young German.
Updated at 10.59 EDT
10km to go: “The key thing for Craig is to decide what sort of stage or stages he wants to see,” emails Tim. “Then make sure you get the announcement of the route when it’s released in November, then book accommodation ASAP, especially if you want to see a mountain stage! Then relax and plan the rest at your leisure!”
Updated at 10.56 EDT
11km to go: UAE Team Emirates XRG take it up now. Simon Yates is done. Narvaez and Adam Yates are there. Suddenly it’s the race leader’s team setting the pace.
“I think they [Visma] threw it away,” says Kelly.
12.5km to go: Back down the road, Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates is putting in a significant effort to set the pace in the group of favourites. Kuss remains glued to his wheel. Then Vingegaard.
The question in all of this … is Pogacar feeling good, or feeling jaded after what’s been a stressful day of defence already?
O’Connor is 3min 26sec ahead of the yellow jersey group. Lipowitz, still on his own, is the third “group” on the road, about 40sec in front of the group of favourites.
Updated at 10.54 EDT
13km to go: O’Connor, cheered on by Steve Cummings alongside in the team car, is giving this everything he’s got. Cummings hands over a bottle. The Australian is already 44sec in front of Rubio. A massive effort. But will he have enough?
Updated at 10.51 EDT
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.
Updated at 10.25 EDT
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.
Updated at 10.24 EDT
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.
Updated at 10.21 EDT
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.”
Updated at 10.16 EDT
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.
Updated at 10.13 EDT
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.
Updated at 10.11 EDT
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.”
Ian Bengey and family on the slopes below the Col de la Loze in Saint Bon Tarentaise. Photograph: Ian Bengey
Thanks for your email. Enjoy the race, and the swag.
Updated at 10.09 EDT
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.
Updated at 09.57 EDT
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.
Updated at 09.54 EDT
45km to go: Going far beyond the call of duty, Amy has also sent a great photo of her current location over in France:
Amy Sedghi’s photo from the Col de la Loze. Photograph: Amy SedghiShare
Updated at 09.50 EDT
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.”
Descending at the Tour de France. Fast. Photograph: Benoît Tessier/ReutersShare
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?