Postpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Here are more gratuitous photos of Montvernier. You're welcome.
Summary
Stage 18: Gap - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 186.5km
Romain Bardet wins stage, second French win this year
Chris Froome defends attacks, still leads GC by 3mins 10secs
Postpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
12.8km remainingpublished at 16:03
Romain Bardet is 43 seconds in front. Just 18 hairpins to master and the stage is yours my friend. The climb up Montvernier is odd - there is no crowd because the road is so narrow.
The yellow jersey group are together and are 3mins 17secs down - they are about to hit the climb.
French fancypublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Matt Slater
BBC Sport"Romain Bardet's profile in France could be about to go stratospheric.
"It has been a tough Tour for the locals after the apparently false dawn of last year's Paris podium places for Jean-Christophe Peraud and Thibaut Pinot.
"But the young Frenchman who finished sixth last year is one short climb from an epic win.
"Already feted as the future of French cycling, his present will be pretty good if he pulls this off and there is an expectant crowd waiting for him."
14.8km remainingpublished at 15:59
Romain Bardet looks set to hold on to this until the end of the stage. His lead over the eight riders behind is hovering at about 35 seconds. Who will try and close him down?
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
The leaders are on Montvernier. It looks spectacular - hopefully it will become a mainstay of the Tour.
Postpublished at 15:57
Hats off to Bauke Mollema. He's pretty much just time trialled his way on to the back of the yellow jersey group.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:55
Adam Talansky, in the front group, has been given food. Technically it's not allowed, because he's in the final 20km. But there were few opportunities to do it safely on the descent just before, so he'll probably get away with it.
18.9km remainingpublished at 15:53
Romain Bardet has a 30-second lead over the front group, which has Jakob Fuglsang back in it after his unfortunate fall. Then 2mins 10secs further back is the yellow jersey group, where Chris Froome has survived attacks from Quintana ans Nibali. Plenty of arms being waved, asking for water and feed.
Postpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
My picture of Montvernier may not have worked. So here's another to gawp at. The TV helicopters will have a field day with these shots. The riders will look like ants heading through capillaries of a nest.
24.1km remainingpublished at 15:48
Romain Bardet is out on his own in front and looks like a good bet to take the stage. It will all depend on whether he's left enough in the legs to get up Montvernier.
The yellow jersey group is 2mins 42secs off the lead.
Your cycling noshpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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29km remainingpublished at 15:43
The yellow jersey group is on the descent, with Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador back in there. They are 2mins 41 secs off the leaders.
Mont-swervierpublished at 15:40
Speaking of climbs, we still have this one to come...
It's not the biggest of the day, but the last ascent before the finish is a mind-boggling zig-zag up Montvernier. It looks gorgeous but probably feels like hell to go up it. Anybody given it a go before?
Credit to will_cyclist for the photo, external
Image source, will_cycle33.7km remainingpublished at 15:39
Meanwhile, Frenchman Romain Bardet is pleasing the locals by being the first to the top of Col du Glandon and is moving off the front of the lead group on the descent. Speaking of brilliant names, he's got Winner Anacona with him.
36.8km remainingpublished at 15:35
Nairo Quintana is off! He's gone ahead of Nibali. This time Geraint Thomas, like a hound of hell, is told to go get him. Chris Froome is out of his saddle and clings on for dear life.
39.3km remainingpublished at 15:33
Image source, APIt's starting to liven up. Vincenzo Nibali makes a move from the yellow jersey group. Geraint Thomas looks to follow, but Chris Froome shakes his head to tell his team-mate to stick. Nibali is eight mins behind Froome in the GC.
Crashpublished at 15:31
You can remove Jakob Fuglsang from that leaders group, he's just hit the deck. It's an odd one, as he was right at the front of the lead group. The consensus is he may have hit a motorbike - which is terrible luck if so.
Image source, @letourAs it stands with 40.5km remainingpublished at 15:29
Lead group: 11 riders including Rodriguez, Fuglsang, Bardet, Talansky and Jungels
Second group +2mins 16secs: Four riders - Contador, Frank, frank, Gesing, Barguil
Yellow jersey group +3mins 3secs
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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Ross Wilson: Bob Jungels - not only a great name, but a future tour winner?...you heard it here first!
A future king of the jungles?
Postpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist"Contador is in attacking rider. The other guy you would say will attack is Valverde. He will be looking for a stage win as well and could be dangerous because of the time bonus on offer. There are a lot of attackers in there and we will see a lot more animated racing."
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Image source, AP