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Top 10 on Stage 18<\/p>\n
1) O\u2019Connor 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<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Reaction and confirmation of the standings coming up \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.30 EDT<\/p>\n Roglic rolls in, a minute or so behind Pogacar. A brilliant ride from the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe man.<\/p>\n Now Kuss comes in. Will Onley be in third tonight? Here comes Lipowitz \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pogacar attacks Vingegaard on the final slopes! He burns off Rubio and claims second place. The Slovenian doesn\u2019t even stand up on the pedals, he just rides away from his rival and further strengthens his iron grip on the battle for GC.<\/p>\n Pogacar finished second, a handful of seconds in front of Vingegaard in third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) wins stage 18<\/p>\n 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<\/a> stage victory of his career. Phenomenal performance. The Australian punches the air and roars with happiness.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.28 EDT<\/p>\n 500m to go: Vingegaard fails to shake off Pogacar. Plus \u00e7a change.<\/p>\n Oscar Onley goes with the two GC favourites! Can he make the podium?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.23 EDT<\/p>\n 1km to go: Flamme rouge for O\u2019Connor! He is still 2min 42sec ahead of the yellow jersey group!<\/p>\n Vingegaard attacks his rival but Pogacar immediately responds and marks his man.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1.5km to go: O\u2019Connor of Jayco AlUla looks like a man who knows he\u2019s 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<\/a>, the greatest of them all.<\/p>\n Truth is, Vingegaard isn\u2019t on bad form at all, but Pogacar is just too strong.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.21 EDT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n There is a party atmosphere but we are not seeing the epic duel among the GC contenders that some hoped for.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2km to go: Rubio stands up on the pedals, presumably only trying to protect his second place, but perhaps he doesn\u2019t know how far ahead O\u2019Connor now is.<\/p>\n Unless he blows up spectacularly, O\u2019Connor has got this in the bag, he looks really strong.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.17 EDT<\/p>\n 2.7km to go: Rubio, previously dropped by O\u2019Connor, is 2min 05sec down. The Pogacar group is 2min 50sec down on O\u2019Connor still.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Will Roglic be able to overhaul Lipowitz in GC, after all? The German is 30sec down on his teammate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.15 EDT<\/p>\n 4km to go: Kuss and Gall are dropped as UAE continue to set the pace.<\/p>\n Ben O\u2019Connor has over three minutes, still, but only just: it\u2019s a 3min 02 sec lead on Pogacar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.13 EDT<\/p>\n 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\u2019s not like he needs any more time in GC, is it?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4.5km to go: \u201cVisma\u2019s tactics make absolutely no sense to me,\u201d writes Marcus. \u201cHow 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\u2019re going to wait, why do they keep setting the pace rather than letting UAE drive?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5km to go: Ben O\u2019Connor already has a a Tour stage win on his palmar\u00e8s \u2013 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.10 EDT<\/p>\n 6km to go: O\u2019Connor 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\u2019s eaten and drunk enough to be in great shape for a final blast up the mountain. He is holding his lead at over 3min \u2013 it\u2019s 3min 16sec at the moment. It\u2019s looking good!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7km to go: \u201cSpontaneously, I\u2019ve just booked to go to Paris for the finale on Sunday to cheer on Pogi,\u201d writes Sally. \u201cI\u2019ve only booked flights and haven\u2019t planned anything else yet \u2013 any suggestions from anyone for the best place to view?\u201d<\/p>\n As it\u2019s a new feature for the final stage, personally I\u2019d try to get on or near the climb in Montmarte (that will be tackled three times). I guess you\u2019d have to arrive quite early to get a good spot though. Regardless of where you are it will be very exciting to be there \u2013 enjoy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8km to go: Still over 3min advantage for O\u2019Connor over the yellow jersey group. This is looking good for O\u2019Connor and Jayco-AlUla right now \u2026 but there is an attack looming from Pogacar, you feel.<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor is now among a thick knot of fans on a big left-hand turn.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they start attacking in the next kilometre this advantage could come down very, very quickly,\u201d remarks Kelly on commentary.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.03 EDT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Jhonatan Narvaez. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.00 EDT<\/p>\n 10km to go: Roglic and Vauquelin were dropped from that group of favourites. Roglic has got back in, but the Frenchman is struggling.<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor still has 3min 35sec on the Pogacar group. Immense effort.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.59 EDT<\/p>\n 10km to go: \u201cThe key thing for Craig is to decide what sort of stage or stages he wants to see,\u201d emails Tim. \u201cThen make sure you get the announcement of the route when it\u2019s 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!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.56 EDT<\/p>\n 11km to go: UAE Team Emirates XRG take it up now. Simon Yates is done. Narvaez and Adam Yates are there. Suddenly it\u2019s the race leader\u2019s team setting the pace.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they [Visma] threw it away,\u201d says Kelly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12.5km to go: Back down the road, Giro d\u2019Italia 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.<\/p>\n The question in all of this \u2026 is Pogacar feeling good, or feeling jaded after what\u2019s been a stressful day of defence already?<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor is 3min 26sec ahead of the yellow jersey group. Lipowitz, still on his own, is the third \u201cgroup\u201d on the road, about 40sec in front of the group of favourites.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.54 EDT<\/p>\n 13km to go: O\u2019Connor, cheered on by Steve Cummings alongside in the team car, is giving this everything he\u2019s got. Cummings hands over a bottle. The Australian is already 44sec in front of Rubio. A massive effort. But will he have enough?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.51 EDT<\/p>\n 14km to go: \u201cWonderful to see the photos from people at the side of the route,\u201d emails Craig. \u201cDoes anyone have advice on how to get there and watch the race live on a mountain next year? I literally don\u2019t know where to start (other than: go to France)!\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never been to a mountain stage (although it isn\u2019t 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 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, Jorgenson looks cooked, and is already losing contact with the group led by Simon Yates.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15km to go: \u201cI don\u2019t know what Visma was thinking, letting Jorgenson run up the road like that,\u201d emails Stephen. \u201cThey had Pogi isolated and even if he was Pogi-strong, they could have kept that pressure on. Silly mistake now that they\u2019ve ordered Jorgenson to wait and have allowed Yates and Narvaes into the yellow jersey group. Pogacar is going to punish Visma for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16km to go: O\u2019Connor attacks Rubio and rides away. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16.5km to go: We have 13 riders in Pogacar\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019Connor and Rubio, who are putting in a massive effort to try and cling on to this lead all the way to the finish.<\/p>\n Will we see GC drama in the next 45 mins or so?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The gruppetto, consisting of 66 riders including Milan, Merlier and Groenewegen, is 26min 18sec behind the front of the race.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20km to go: Rubio leads O\u2019Connor with the front pair working together on the road up to the ski resort. O\u2019Connor stamps on his pedals and comes past his rival\/ally. The yellow jersey group is more than three minutes behind the two leaders.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21km to go: \u201cWhat I understand from reading these updates (I am in Western US, and I cannot watch) is Vingegaard\/Visma is not attacking,\u201d writes Stephanie. \u201cDisappointing. I was hoping for a massive show of strength from him (Just to make it interesting.)\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22km to go: It appears that Jorgenson was not dropped, but instead is waiting to join forces with his team leader Vingegaard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.25 EDT<\/p>\n 23.5km to go: Ben O\u2019Connor is setting a punishing pace on the front. Rubio and the Australian have now forged ahead without Jorgenson.<\/p>\n Lipowitz continues to toil up the climb on his own, more than two minutes in front of the group with Pog, Vin and Onley.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.24 EDT<\/p>\n 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 \u2026 but at the moment it\u2019s hard to see Vingegaard being strong enough to make much of a dent, if anything at all, in Pogacar\u2019s commanding GC lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.21 EDT<\/p>\n 24.5km to go: The Onley group has joined up with the Pogacar\/Vingegaard group. So it\u2019s 19 riders together there, the third group on the road, counting Lipowitz in between them and the front three.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25km to go: David emails: \u201cRe: 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe peloton was allowed to continue in the race.\u201d<\/p>\n Good knowledge, thanks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26.4km to go: The leaders hit the base of the final climb. Lipowitz is still trying to get across to the three leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cVingegaard can\u2019t see the pace early in the climb,\u201d points out Kelly on commentary, regarding the battle for the yellow jersey. \u201cBecause that way, Pogacar gets an easy ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.16 EDT<\/p>\n A news report from Jeremy Whittle:<\/p>\n David Rozman, a long-term member of Ineos Grenadiers staff, has left the Tour de France<\/a> after the International Testing Agency launched an investigation into alleged messages he exchanged in 2012 with subsequently convicted German doping doctor Mark Schmidt.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.13 EDT<\/p>\n 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\u2019Connor, Jorgenson and Rubio.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.11 EDT<\/p>\n 31km to go: \u201cWe\u2019re on the slopes below the Col de la Loze in Saint Bon Tarentaise,\u201d emails Ian.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just enjoyed a swag-fest from the publicity caravan. Hats, shirts, sausages, olive oil, Sweets, drinks and general tat. All part of the tour \u2026 Vive la Caravan.\u201d<\/p>\n Ian Bengey and family on the slopes below the Col de la Loze in Saint Bon Tarentaise. Photograph: Ian Bengey<\/p>\n Thanks for your email. Enjoy the race, and the swag.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.09 EDT<\/p>\n 32km to go: Lipowitz attacks solo!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33km to go: A spot of rain on the final climb, according to reports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34km to go: At the back of the race, the gruppetto is 25min down.<\/p>\n \u201cIf say 66 riders finished outside the time limit, would they still be able to stay in the race?\u201d asks Mark. \u201cDoes the group size matter?\u201d<\/p>\n I am sure they have given special dispensation, in the past, to big groups that have missed the time cut.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36km to go: A flat section now leading into the final climb. It\u2019s over a minute\u2019s gap for the leading group: O\u2019Connor, Jorgenson, Rubio. 1min 19 sec.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38km to go: \u201cThis is not a good situation for Visma-Lease A Bike,\u201d says Sean Kelly on commentary. \u201cThey were doing a perfect job until now. But they are giving riders recovery time before the final climb.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have to see if they can break Pogacar on the final climb.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40km to go: Three riders, O\u2019Connor, 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\u2019ll be Roglic v Lipowitz going head to head on the final climb then? Along with Pogacar and Vingegaard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.57 EDT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.54 EDT<\/p>\n 45km to go: Going far beyond the call of duty, Amy has also sent a great photo of her current location over in France:<\/p>\n Amy Sedghi\u2019s photo from the Col de la Loze. Photograph: Amy SedghiShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.50 EDT<\/p>\n 47km to go: \u201cThose descents are terrifying,\u201d emails Tim. \u201cI\u2019ve fantasised about winning the polka-dot jersey since I became a Claudio Chiappucci fanboy in the early 90s.<\/p>\n \u201cBack 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\u2019d be screaming for my mum all the way down. Unedifying.\u201d<\/p>\n Descending at the Tour de France. Fast. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n 49km to go: \u201cBonjour from Col de la Loze!\u201d emails someone familiar to you all: Amy Sedghi.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve taken a week off from Guardian live-blogging to see the Tour de France<\/a> 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\u2019t wait to see the riders coming through! Allez, Allez!\u201d<\/p>\n Have a wonderful time Amy. Enjoy.<\/p>\n