Michael Rogers takes victory in stage 16
Thomas Voeckler second, Vasil Kiriyenka third
Vincenzo Nibali, retains yellow jersey ahead of Alejandro Valverde
Stage 16: Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon, 237km
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Port de Bales played a crucial role in the 2010 Tour as it was when the race leader Andy Schleck had a mechanical neat the summit and Alberto Contador attacked, taking the top spot overall.
Contador went on to win the race, but was disqualified after failing a dope test. Schleck was declared the winner.
The Port de Bales is a Hors Categorie climb of 11.7km at a gradient of 7.7%. The breakaway are just approaching the bottom with the peloton - which features Vincenzo Nibali - 11 minutes and 46 seconds adrift.
Image source, Le Tour de FranceBritain's Mark Cavendish, who required shoulder surgery after crashing out of the race on the first stage, is doing today's route - but in the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team car, rather than his bike. The Briton hasn't set a date for his competitive return yet.
With the Col des Ares now a distant memory for the breakaway, only the testing Port de Bales climb remains. Reach the summit there and it's a fast descent all the way to the finish.
John McEnerney:, external Only an accident is likely 2 stop VN being in yellow at tea time, he'll play it safe unless AV attacks it's now or never for Val.
Polkadot Jersey
Classification
Thomas Voeckler takes the maximum two points as he reaches the summit of the Col de Ares first.
The Frenchman remains part of a 21-man breakaway which continues to pull away from the peloton.
The gap is up to 11 minutes and 25 seconds and is the biggest we've seen in the whole of this Tour.
Image source, Alberto ContadorTwo-time champion Alberto Contador had to withdraw from this year's race after a heavy crash on stage 10.
The Spaniard fractured a bone in his right leg and today posted a picture of himself as he continues his recovery.
He tweeted:, external "Hello everyone, getting better little by little, but much more slowly than I wanted. Always well accompanied. #daybyday
Image source, Getty ImagesI'm in no doubt it's a great view, but I definitely would not fancy watching this stage from way up there...
Image source, PAWhile it's mostly been bad news from a British perspective in this year's Tour, I do have some good news to report.
Mark Cavendish, who crashed out on the first stage, is back on a bike following shoulder surgery.
"[On Sunday] I went out with my bike on the road for the first time after the injury, but as of now I can't really say when I will be racing again," says the 25-Tour stage winner, who visited his team-mates during the rest day on Monday.
Polkadot Jersey
Classification
Image source, ReutersThomas Voeckler grabbed the maximum five points for going over the the Col de Portet-d'Aspet. That moves him into sixth in the battle for the polka dot jersey, but he still trails Rafal Majka by 60 points.
Can anyone stop Vincenzo Nibali winning the yellow jersey? Do you think the breakway will be caught today? Who is your favourite for the stage win and why?
Tweet your answers - or any other cycling-related chat - using the #bbccycling hashtag or by texting 81111 (UK only), remembering to add your name to those SMS messages.
Yellow Jersey
Classification
Vincenzo Nibali is in the yellow jersey, the race leader holding a four minute and 37 second lead over Alejandro Valverde, with Romain Bardet a further 13 seconds back.
The good news for the Italian is that no one in the breakaway, which is now 10 minutes and 36 seconds clear, is a contender for the general classification, so he'll almost certainly retain the yellow.
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky's five-time Tour de France rider
"There is a 20km descent to the finish where we drop almost 1,000m in altitude so it will be a fast pace. It's pretty much man v man on a descent, as fast as you feel confident going.
"If it is was long and a bit flatter you could get help from your team-mates but I've been to see this one and it's steep and technical so you're on your own."
Read more on the remaining days in Geraint's stage-by-stage guide.
Image source, EPAOf the 198 riders which started, just 169 remain as we enter the third week of the Tour.
World road race champion Rui Costa is the latest high-profile cyclist to withdraw after an outbreak of pneumonia.
The Portuguese rider was 13th in the overall standings, behind leader Vincenzo Nibali.
The 27-year-old's Lampre-Merida team said he was suffering from "a general state of fatigue".
A day of rest on Monday meant a breakaway attempt on the longest stage of the Tour, from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon, was guaranteed today - and we haven't been disappointed.
The stage is already under way with 74km of the 237km remaining. There is a 21-man breakaway and they have a huge 10 minute and 16 second lead.
They've already cleared the Col de Portet-d'Aspet - just two more ascents, including the challenging Port de Bales.
Image source, ReutersAfternoon all and welcome to live text commentary of stage 16 of the Tour de France.
After the last of only two rest days during the 21-stage race, the riders are now faced with five more lung-busting days in the saddle before they cruise into Paris, champagne in hand, for the finale on Sunday.
"I thought my head was going to explode". That's not a sentence I ever want to find myself saying but that's exactly how Geraint Thomas described his physical condition as he completed the first day in the mountains on Friday.
Image source, Getty ImagesAnd then there was one.
Geraint Thomas is Britain's last man standing (or rather sitting) in the Tour de France after Simon Yates was withdrawn after the last stage on Sunday night.
The 21-year-old made an impressive debut for Orica GreeEdge, but follows countrymen Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish on an early flight home.