Summary

  • Follow live coverage from 12:20 BST

  • Belgium's Victor Campenaerts emerged from a breakaway trio to clinch victory on stage 18

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl

  1. That's all folks!

    You can read my stage report here.

    Always a pleasure talking with you. Join me again tomorrow for this beauty.

    Stage 20ASO

  2. Britain's Simon Yates speaking to ITV 4: "It was a really hard day. Of course Visma had the numerical advantage, I had to play off that a little bit. I was also a bit wary of the altitude. I tried to go late, but it wasn't enough.

    "You get a rough idea of how strong guys are during the stage, but it's not a surprise that Carapaz is strong. He was good but maybe he paid for his efforts because he was in the breakaway yesterday.

    "I tried to follow him [Pogacar] but that was a mistake because I blew myself up in the final stages."

  3. 'It went 100% perfect'

    Tadej Pogacar after his win: "Queen stage of the Tour de France, now I can confirm it's a very scary climb in the race. I'm super happy that I had good legs today. We were here training for a whole month between the Giro and Tour, we were training for a long time. I knew this climb super well. I was speaking with teammates in the training camp how we wanted to race and we did it exactly how we wanted. It went 100% perfect.

    "We were setting a good pace. We thought Jonas might try in the second climb, that was my first thought. But the main goal today was to take the stage. I take that.

    "I was a little bit empty in the last two kilometres. When I caught Carapaz and Simon Yates I was already at the limit. But when I saw Matteo Jorgenson was also losing it, I tried to pass through. But then I killed my legs, I thought he might outsprint me in the end.

    "Looking better than ever I would say so. I'm super happy. Tomorrow I can just enjoy the stage. We will let the breakaway go and maybe we can enjoy the roads where I have done all my training. Hopefully I can enjoy tomorrow.

    "This tour has been pretty amazing with the stage wins. It's pretty crazy and I'm super proud and happy."

  4. GC after stage 19

    1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 78hrs 49mins 20secs
    2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +5mins 03secs
    3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal- Quick Step) +7:01
    4. Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates) +15:07
    5. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal-Quick Step) +15:34

  5. Tadej Pogacar probably now has a lead of about four minutes and 50 seconds.

    Two stages - one in the mountains and one time trial - remain.

  6. GC rivals Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard finish fourth and fifth, one minute and 43 seconds behind Tadej Pogacar.

  7. Richard Carapaz is fourth.

  8. Simon Yates is third, about 41 seconds behind Tadej Pogacar.

  9. Matteo Jorgenson finishes second. About 28 seconds back.

  10. He's something else, ain't he?

  11. Tadej Pogacar wins stage 19
    Breaking

  12. Simon Yates is only a few seconds behind Matteo Jorgenson now. What might have been if Tadej Pogacar hadn't decided to attack.

  13. Under the one kilometre to go banner. Tadej Pogacar is cruising.

  14. Tadej Pogacar is one minute 41 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.

  15. Tadej Pogacar goes clear. All set for stage win number four for the champion elect.

  16. There's a gap of five metres as the pair go under the 2km banner.

  17. He can see Jorgenson now. This is brutal. Too good. History maker.

  18. Nope, Yates can't hold on. Tadej Pogacar is so much better than everyone else. He drops Yates and is 15 seconds away from Matteo Jorgenson.

  19. Tadej Pogacar reaches Simon Yates. The Britain responds and is trying to hold the yellow jersey's wheel.

  20. Simon Yates is 18 seconds behind Jorgenson. But he's only 12 seconds ahead of Pog.

    Don't look behind you Simon!