That's all from me, folks. Thanks for your company, as ever. It's been a blast. Here's the stage report, including analysis from Magnus Backstedt.

Chris Bevan is in the saddle tomorrow so until next time, it's good afternoon from me.

Image source, Tour de France

Tomorrow, stage 18 runs 145.5km from Pau to Haytacam. "The final battle in the mountains takes in the iconic Col du Tourmalet before the final showdown on Hautacam," says Team Sky's Geraint Thomas.

"Expect Vincenzo Nibali to be all guns blazing."

Tinkoff-Saxo chief Olaf Tinkoff on ITV4: "I'm very happy with my guys, we proved to the world that we are the strongest team. If there were some sceptics, we proved them wrong today. We are the strongest team. It was a sad about Alberto, but we have a good spirit. I'm very happy for my boys."

Three French riders - Thibaut Pinot, Jean-Christophe Peraud and Romain Bardet - retain their places in the top five.

With the way they're riding in the mountains, there's every chance two of them could make it onto the podium in Paris, behind Vincenzo Nibali, who looks untouchable at the top.

Small Man Peaky:, external "Exciting young French, Polish and Colombian riders. The future of cycling is bright. The future of British cycling. Not so much."

It's stage winner Rafal Majka's turn to take to the podium, the Pole receiving his polka dot jersey after an sensational ride on the ascents today.

Image source, AFP

Yellow Jersey
Classification

Image source, Reuters

Italian Vincenzo Nibali, who is quite frankly dominating this year's Tour, climbs aboard the podium to receive the yellow jersey. Tomorrow will be the 15th day he'll be in yellow. It's been a sensational ride.

I reported that the gruppetto had crossed the line, but that was a mistake. They're still out there. Only 61 riders, of the 167 which started, have crossed the finish line.

Yellow Jersey
Classification

1) Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 76hrs 41mins 28secs

2) Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +5mins 26secs

3) Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ.fr) +6mins 00secs

4) Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +6mins 08secs

5) Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +7mins 34secs

6) Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +10mins 19secs

Good effort from the gruppetto which crosses the line now, around 15 minutes behind the winner. That should be within the time limit so that they can fight another day.

Image source, EPA

"Thank you for my team," says stage 17 winner Rafal Majka on ITV4. "Also Nicolas [Roche] did a great job today. I'm really happy to go in the front, pass everybody and win the stage. Yesterday I went easy, now I have the polka dot jersey and I want to keep it until Paris."

1) Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) 3hrs 35mins 23secs

2) Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) +29secs

3) Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) +46secs

4) Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) +same time

5) Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) +49secs

Magnus Backstedt
Swedish cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"The Tinkoff-Saxo team is filled with confidence now after Michael Rogers' win on Tuesday and they are getting the confidence and form. Without Alberto Contador this is the next best result they could have hoped for and once they got the first win under their belt the floodgates appear to be opening for more stage wins."

Polkadot Jersey
Classification

Image source, AP

That's Rafal Majka's second stage victory of his debut Tour de France after he triumphed in stage 14. He leads the polka dot jersey standings with 149 points, 31 clear of Vincenzo Nibali with Joaquim Rodriguez six further back.

Yellow Jersey
Classification

Vincenzo Nibali extends his lead in the general classification to five minutes and 26 seconds over Alejandro Valverde, with Thibaut Pinot third, 34 seconds further back.

Yellow Jersey
Classification

It's an impressive ride from yellow jersey leader Vincenzo Nibali who crosses the line third, just 43 seconds behind Majka.

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Rafal Majka of Poland wins stage 17 of the Tour de France.

Vincenzo Nibali is now just one minute behind stage leader Rafal Majka and has five other riders, including 2010 Tour winner Frank Schleck, for company. But there are less than 2km to go.

Rafal Majka makes a move, launching an attack on the outright lead on this stage and Giovanni Visconti can't respond. What a ride this is from the polka dot jersey holder.

Polkadot Jersey
Classification

Rafal Majka, who holds the polka dot jersey, has caught leader Giovanni Visconti. Both are grimacing as they work together as the edge towards the summit.

They have a lead of one minute and 37 seconds over race leader Vincenzo Nibali and Jean-Christophe Peraud. Just 3.8km to go.