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12km to go: Back in the peloton, UAE and Visma \u2013 the teams of Pogacar and Vingegaard \u2013 are cooking something, plotting against each other. Both have riders up ahead. Oscar Onley is up there, too, with Warren Barguil, a great lost talent, as his domestique.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13km to go: Uh oh, the peloton is motoring up this hill like Hells Angels in the Peaks. They are gobbling up time. Can Mas et al hold them off? Mas has won a stage at the Vuelta. Arensman and Alaphilippe are dropped. Movistar are looking to end their drought. Their last winner was Nairo Quintana in 2019.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14km to go: How will the peloton fit on these crowded roads? Geraint Thomas is one of those being spat out the back. The yellow jersey group is way behind but that doesn\u2019t preclude fireworks between them towards the summit. Enric Mas has a dig for victory, trying to shell Alaphilippe and Arsensman.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mont Ventoux is here<\/p>\n 15km to go: The crowds are huge as the climb begins. Mas, Arensman and Alaphilippe are the leaders. The peloton starts to kick on and the field in thinning out on the \u201cBald Mountain\u201d. Incredible scenes, shades of Froome in 2016.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16km to go: Arensman, Alaphilippe, Mas, Velasco and Abrahamsen, a group splintered, with Trentin\u2019s big haul coming to its end. Martinez has been kicked down the field, with a mechanical fault not helping. His polka is in danger should Pogacar actually attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18km to go: Alaphilippe \u2013 radio on \u2013 decides he\u2019s having a go. No French stage winner this day. Arensman, a winner in the Pyrenees, is struggling. Abrahamsen wants to have a go, too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21km to go: Here is B\u00e9doin, and that means we are now climbing climbing climbing until the end of the day. The gap is 6\u2019 50\u201d, does this mean UAE and Pogacar have decided the break is clear? Will the winner come from the two lead groups? Alaphilippe, Martinez and Healy all with chances.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25km to go: The breakaway brotherhood are beginning to climb out of their saddles. The Ventoux climb begins around 21km out, with 4.5km of relatively gentle climbing followed by 16.5km of sheer hell. Time to take on food and water, and hope the legs are working well. Behind, Team UAE loom, ready to go when the moment comes.<\/p>\n Neil Broderick is here: \u201cMichael Forbes: \u201cJust wondering about your thoughts on Vingegaard this year: is he physically finished, or is all the drama with his wife and the team responsible for his poor showing? \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a sad commentary on modern sport when being the second best cyclist in the world is equivalent to being \u201cphysically finished\u201d. Vingegaard is still minutes ahead of everyone else which is a major achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s still just 28, which used to be the time when riders were considered ripe to win the race.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.39 EDT<\/p>\n 30km to go: The foothills are here. Pogacar is 6\u2019 30\u201d back. He\u2019s given himself plenty to do. Though it still feels as if UAE are in control. The renegades at the front will surely be gobbled up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 35km to go: John Westwell gets in touch: \u201cAlthough Gary Naylor makes a valid point about Pogacar being a true patron and allowing a break to contest today\u2019s stage, I don\u2019t think he\u2019s that sort of rider.<\/p>\n \u201dAs someone who encourages the comparison with Eddy Merckxx, Pogacar is only too aware that Merckxx won atop Ventoux in 1970. I\u2019d be amazed if he doesn\u2019t want to do the same today. And his team seems to be riding to keep three riders out front with a small gap which can be pulled back on or before the final climb.\u201d<\/p>\n William Preston: \u201cAlthough I mainly agree with Gary Naylor: Pogacar could refrain from getting a stomp on and leave the thrilling heroics to others; a philosopher once said \u201cthere are no gifts on the Ventoux\u201d. I genuinely look forward to seeing some brilliant climbing across the peloton, and a super party atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n Nick Wayne: \u201cAs Pog said he\u2019s paid (handsomely) to race. Wouldn\u2019t put it past UAE to give him a humongous bonus for all three jerseys. But I\u2019m hoping Lenny det polka and Milan stays in green.\u201d<\/p>\n David Alderton: \u201cCampenaerts has had a stellar two weeks. A workhorse of a man. Ventoux is probably my favourite mountain after the Armstrong and Pantani duel many years ago. Such epic days have been witnessed here.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Forbes: \u201cJust wondering about your thoughts on Vingegaard this year: is he physically finished, or is all the drama with his wife and the team responsible for his poor showing? \u201c<\/p>\n Yes, shades of Mrs Froome\u2019s involvement a few years back though I\u2019d say Vingo is a) against a peaking Pog and b) still hungover from last year\u2019s amazing effort after his Basque crash.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40km to go: Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Julian Alaphilippe and Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling), Enric Mas (Movistar), Simone Velasco (Astana) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) are the group leading Healy but nobody is really busting a gut. Bedoin, not so far up the road, awaits. And that\u2019s when it begins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50km to go: The games continue, and a crosswind approaches. Ben Healy is in a group a minute off the leaders. It\u2019s time to work out who has a chance can stay away on Ventoux. The answer, most probably, is nobody.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ch\u00e2teauneuf-du-Pape sprint goes to Abrahamsem<\/p>\n 59km to go: Here comes that sprint, and the points do not go to Milan. His team have dropped the ball here. Girmay is nowhere near, either. Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility takes it, with few interested chasers. Simone Velasco of Astana has a half-hearted go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.06 EDT<\/p>\n 65 km to go: Apologies for the use of X, but here\u2019s the personnel in the breakaway. It\u2019s splitting in half now, too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 70km to go: The sprint draws clear, as they speed through beautiful countryside and then some more suburban scenery. The sprint is at Ch\u00e2teauneuf-du-Pape, who all you winos will recognise the name. Not cheap, usually.<\/p>\n Wiki: \u201cliterally translates to \u201cThe Pope\u2019s new castle\u201d and, indeed, the history of this appellation is firmly entwined with papal history. In 1309, Pope Clement V, former Archbishop of Bordeaux, relocated the papacy to the town of Avignon. Clement V and subsequent \u201cAvignon Popes\u201d were said to be great lovers of Burgundy wines and did much to promote them during the 70-year Avignon Papacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Does this mean they go sur le pont d\u2019Avignon?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80km to go: A downhill section \u2013 welcome, no doubt \u2013 and Jonathan Milan\u2019s team has missed the break, and that could damage his chances of the green jersey. He\u2019s 2\u2019 25\u201d off the front of the course. In a group ahead, Biniam Girmay is looking to take points off the green holder. Soler and Sivakov of Team UAE are in the break, to do that police work.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90km to go: Here comes what Jim Davidson would call a big break. But it\u2019s too big to stay away in truth. Healy, Ireland\u2019s hero, is involved. Here\u2019s Alaphilippe, the \u201cwinner\u201d of Sunday\u2019s stage. This is chaotic stuff, really. There\u2019s 30 riders or so up there, and the gap is a minute or so. Food and bottles are taken on in the peloton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 100 km to go: The sprint is 40km to go, and the break is being closed down. Feels like a phoney war for much of the day then blast off as the Ventoux beckons. Lots of trepidation for a climb that holds such portents of doom. As the 100km clock is reached, the break is closed by mostly Visma riders from Vingegaard\u2019s team. Wout van Aert is on manoeuvres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 110 km to go: Comfort breaks are taken, but not in the breakaway who open up the gap. Such a long way to go for them. Anyone winning from that trio would be borderline miraculous. They are 1\u2019 45\u201d clear. But not for long, as Schmid and Plapp set of for Team Jayco.<\/p>\n Joseph gets in touch: \u201cWe\u2019re following your live commentary sat in Bedoin at the foot of Ventoux. The whole town is buzzing.\u201d<\/p>\n Presume not buzzing at my plodding prose, instead the key stage of Le Tour 2025.<\/p>\n Matteo Trentin in action during stage 16. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.47 EDT<\/p>\n 120 km to go: Sally Ledger gets in touch: \u201cMorning John, I\u2019m in exactly the same position as Huw Morgan (without the 3pm board meeting) and am also a Pogacar superfan. I know where Huw\u2019s coming from but, unlike John [Huw?], I want Pogacar to absolutely crush it today. I know most want a close fought tussle but I just love watching him take flight. I\u2019m actually quite nervous on his behalf. Go Pogi!\u201d<\/p>\n Gary Naylor makes a fine point: \u201cI believe that Pogacar is growing into an old school patron and, as such, it\u2019s his responsibility to ensure that the race bestows its gifts generously. So I hope he just marks Visma today and lets a break go. The race needs a climber and a sprinter in the jerseys on Sunday and only he can ensure that.\u201d<\/p>\n The trio breakaway stay away but within easy reach.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 125km to go: Much chicanery, though the escapees will be allowed to stay away for now. Nils Pollitt, the domestique for UAE and Pogacar, is doing a policing job on the front, making sure nobody joins the trio 45 seconds clear, though the clock soon reverts to 33 seconds. UAE want this for their man. Milan wants to be up the front for his green jersey point. The sprint isn\u2019t until 59km left in the stage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.37 EDT<\/p>\n 140 km to go: They\u2019re rattling along at 60 km\/h and the break loses its advantage. It looks like breaks will come and go until that final fateful climb.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 155km to go: Here go three men good and true in another attempt to establish a break. The gap is eight seconds but climbs to 25. Meurrise, Haller and Hirschi are those up in the vanguard. Marc Hirschi won on stage 11 in 2020, a hilly stage ending in Sarran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 165km to go: Lenny Martinez is up the front, and will fancy another breakaway to land his polka points. The breaks aren\u2019t snagging just yet. Montpellier is left behind as the Med coast appears in view. It looks ridiculously beautiful.<\/p>\n Huw Morgan gets in touch: \u201cWork web filtering means I\u2019m on the live updates only. My colleague Libby has wisely chosen to WFH so she can watch it. I\u2019m not so lucky with a board meeting to attend at 3pm. I\u2019ve been following cycling for 3 years now and I\u2019ve never seen a stage like this. Flat, flat, flat, BANG. Absolutely buzzing to watch it with my wife when I get home from work! We\u2019re Pogacar super fans but hoping for a real tussle on Ventoux with Pog losing some time.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Off we go in Montpellier<\/p>\n 171.2 km to go: Christian Prudhomme waves them away, and off goes an immediate breakaway, with Wout van Aert among them. Ivan Romeo is there, too, as is Jonathan Milan, still fighting off Pogacar.<\/p>\n The peloton cycles across Place de Thessalie in central Montpellier. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.50 EDT<\/p>\n Strava\u2019s read on the Ventoux climb.<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n Any segment where Tadej Poga\u010dar is No1 on the leaderboard is going to hurt \u2013 his time of exactly 1 hour for this 13.4 mile \/ 21.5km climb during the 2021 Tour is almost unfathomable. But put that time to one side and concentrate on the road in front of you, as this climb is known as the \u2018Beast of Provence\u2019 for a reason: the last 3.7 miles \/ 6km are painful, and mentally you should prepare yourself.<\/p>\n The views up to that point are largely forest-based, but once you exit the trees you\u2019re in a dusty, rock-strewn lunar landscape, exposed to potentially strong winds, low temperatures and hovering clouds. Look out for Tom Simpson\u2019s memorial, as that means you have just 1km left to the summit where your legs can rest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Van der Poel pulls out with pneumonia<\/p>\n The Dutchman has been diagnosed with pneumonia and will not start Stage 16 on Tuesday, having been a leading light and worn yellow in Le Tour\u2019s opening week.<\/p>\n \u201cMathieu had been experiencing symptoms of a common cold over the past few days. Yesterday afternoon, his condition began to worsen significantly.\u201d his Alpecin-Deceuninck team said in a statement. He was third in the points classification for the green jersey at the time of his withdrawal, behind Jonathan Milan and Tadej Pogacar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s 8km to go until the d\u00e9part r\u00e9el, when the attacks are expected from the get-go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tour de France, Stage 16 Illustration: ASO\/TourdeFranceShare<\/a><\/p>\n Nick Wayne gets in touch: \u201cI suppose it\u2019s a sign of maturity if he saves his energy for the Alps. It would also make for a cracking stage win if he blasts out of the pedals a few K before the line. \u201c<\/p>\n Pogacar has sat up the last two stages, allowed the breakaway to go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Is the race for the yellow jersey over? Not according to Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time winner promising to go for broke.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to try to do something,\u201d he said, and insisted that he was willing to risk everything to win. \u201cThere needs to be a weakness somewhere on Tadej\u2019s part. For now, we haven\u2019t found it, but we\u2019ll keep trying. I\u2019m willing to sacrifice second place to go for first.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n William Fotheringham on the legend of Ventoux.<\/p>\n Tempora mutantur, but not the Ventoux. That, partly, reflects one of the key features of the Tour; the way it constantly revisits and rewrites its past in places that have barely changed since the first visit. Go round the partly banked corner at Saint-Est\u00e8ve and on to the virtually straight haul through the oak-wooded lower slopes, and it\u2019s essentially the same brutal experience that the stars of the 50s, 60s and 70s might have undergone, perhaps with better tarmac as you go up with barely a hairpin to break the gradient until the final haul across the scree slopes to the top.<\/p>\n