Your cycling noshpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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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
Your cycling noshpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Mediapublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Producing over 80 hours of live broadcast the Tour de France really does have a huge media following. BBC Radio 5 live's Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles are a small section of the hundreds of journalists that are at the event- you can hear coverage from 15:00 BST by clicking the audio icon on this page.
Postpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraBBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentators Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles, along with producer Gemma, are on their way through the Alps to the finish line. Not a bad life.
Commentary today is online only, from 15:00 BST.
73km remainingpublished at 14:20
Quite a few in the lead group were caught out by Thomas De Gendt's decision to keep on putting the pedal to the metal after that sprint. There's 11 of them 25secs out in front, including yesterday's runner-up Adam Talansky, polka dot wearer Joaquim Rodriguez and Ireland's Dan Martin.
Your cycling noshpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Cafe or take your own? What's your favourite cycling food? Use #bbccycling to tell us
77km remainingpublished at 14:14
That group that fell off the back of the peloton contains green jersey wearer Peter Sagan, although he has 104-point lead at the top of the classification so he won't be concerned. Tony Gallopin is there too and they're about a minute of the yellow jersey group.
Green jerseypublished at 14:11
Thomas De Gendt takes the intermediate sprint, he's 11th in the green jersey rankings. And with it comes a move to pull away from the leading group. Let's see if this is just a flash in the pan...
80km remainingpublished at 14:08
Chris Froome is having a little turn at the front of the peloton, picking up the pace, and it's caused a bit of a fracture in the group. It looks pretty messy actually. There's a gap of 3mins 40secs to the leaders, who are now 1km away from the sprint line.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Matt Slater
BBC Sport"While we wait for the day's main action on the 21.7km plod up the Col du Glandon, which looked suitably menacing as we sped past it on the motorway this morning, let us look at which teams are in the prize money at the moment.
"The Tour de France dishes out bonuses for all kinds of things - stage wins, days spent in leaders' jerseys, combative rides and so on - and with four stages left we have a running total.
"Tinkoff-Saxo lead the way on 72,580 euros, thanks to Peter Sagan's efforts, then it is Etixx-Quick Step on 50,690 euros, with Team Sky in fifth place on 36,130 euros.
"That could all change in Paris, as that is where the big prizes come.
"But spare a thought for injury-ravaged Orica-GreenEdge in 21st place with just 6,100 euros. They have spent that on bandages already."
Image source, Getty ImagesGreen jerseypublished at 14:03
What is this? It seems to be road that stretches out forwards in a non-ascending manner. What's that word? Oh yes, it's 'flat'.
Make the most of it boys, they're as rare as unicorn poop out here in the Alps.
So who fancies these sprint points in Rioupereuex then?
Postpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Your cycling noshpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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I'm sure your girls are delighted you've sent us a pic of them scoffing food Paul. Looks like a wonderful day though. What food stops do you make on your rides? Use #bbccycling to tell us
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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Jonathan Meres: Interesting fact. 'Col' is actually short for 'Colin'
Edu: Movistar quite clearly aiming for podium+best team. Look how they attacked when Contador fell yesterday. #noambition
Matt Taggart: Renshaw is a(nother) loss, but Cav ditched the lead out in Stage 7 and he's won by sniping many times before
92km remainingpublished at 13:54
The leaders are flying down Col de la Morte. But here comes the biggie.
We have an intermediate sprint first, but then it's the hors categorie Col du Glandon - 21.7km at 5.1%. It's a leg stinger.
The peloton are within 3mins 39secs of the leaders now.
Image source, ReutersPolka dot jerseypublished at 13:47
It's five from five for Purito. Joaquim Rodriguez snaffles five climbers' points by reaching the summit of Col de la Morte first. That puts him seven points clear of Chris Froome in the king of the mountain standings.
Stats fantastique!published at 13:43
Let's have a look at how the Tour compares to this time last year, before the start of stage 18. Chris Froome has so far cycled fewer km at a slower speed. Although Froome has a narrower lead over his nearest rival Nairo Quintana, he's over eight minutes ahead of last year's winner - Vincenzo Nibali
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
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Andrew Harvey: Wow, Cav's got his work cut out in Paris after main lead-out man Renshaw has abandoned. Lead-out train now 3 riders light!
Chris King: I don't think Movistar can beat Froome without sacrificing 1 of their podium positions. They need to decide what they want more
103km remainingpublished at 13:41
The peloton spins past a man stood alone in a field dressed in an orange morph suit taking photos. Perfectly normal.
Giant are pulling the group along and the gap is closing on the leaders (3mins 45secs) - they may want to give Warren Barguil a chance of winning the stage.
The breakaway are 1km from the next summit.
Image source, ReutersRenshaw retirespublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 23 July 2015
Renshaw retirespublished at 13:35
You may recall I mentioned that Mark Renshaw had fallen off the back of the peloton. It turns out the Australian was having a problem.