Contador droppedpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
The pace finally proves too much for Alberto Contador as the Spaniard drifts back towards the top of the Peyresourde.
Summary
Stage 12: Pau-Peyragudes, 214.5km
Romain Bardet sprints clear to win stage 12
Chris Froome slips to second as Fabio Aru takes lead
Froome cracks on brutal final climb to finish
Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 14:00 BST
Contador droppedpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
6km to gopublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
1km to the summit of the Col de Peyresourde
Compare and contrast Nairo Quintana out the back by himself with Chris Froome, surrounded by two team-mates.
The leaders have just 1km to go before they go over the summit.
7km to gopublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Mikels Nieve and Landa still with Chris Froome at the front of the race now.
The remaining favourites - Jakob Fuglsang and Nairo Quintana - are still right behind them, though.
Cummings caughtpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Chapeau! A belting effort from Steve Cummings but he had little chance on this climb against this Sky train as he is finally caught with 8.6km to go.
Whether this in his mind or not, British champion Cummings has provided a fitting tribute to Tom Simpson on the 50th anniversary of the British cyclist's death on Mont Ventoux.
You can bet Cummings will go again. A couple more stages in this year's edition appear to suit him well.
Cummings crackspublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Oh no. Steve Cummings has cracked.
A massive effort from the British champion but his body language shifts as he realises that Team Sky are just too strong.
The lead is absolutely tumbling down.
9km to gopublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by
Steve Cummings' lead falls under one minute for the first time since very early on in this stage.
The rate that Team Sky are shooting up this climb, they could catch Cummings before the summit.
Third-placed Rigoberto Uran still looking good up there.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Kwiatkowski has gone, having left it all on the road for Froome.
Nieve takes over, followed by Landa.
Contador is still there, doing his trademark dance on the peddles.
Yates is on the back of this group of leaders, hoping to stay in touch.
10km to gopublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'20''
Steve Cummings goes under the 5km to go banner to the top of the Peyresourde, meaning he's about 10km from the stage finish.
His advantage is creeping down as Michal Kwiatkowski puts in his final dig for his leader Chris Froome.
Warren Barguil now off the back.
Postpublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
BBC Radio 5 live sports extraTune in to commentary from Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra to follow the final 10km of this key stage.
You can also listen by clicking the tab at the top of this page.
Postpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
So Team Sky have Kwiatkowski, Landa and Nieve in front of Froome.
Fabio Aru is on the leader's wheel. Romain Bardet is still there, as are Dan Martin and Simon Yates.
How long can they last at this pace?
11km to gopublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'35''
Team Sky setting a ruthless pace for Chris Froome now, which is putting many riders into the red and cutting into the lead of Britain's Steve Cummings out front.
Quintana droppedpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Nairo Quintana started the day in eighth, 2'13'' behind Chris Froome but the Colombian is slipping rapidly off the back now.
Having ridden to second place in the Giro, the two-time runner-up in the Tour clearly doesn't have the legs this year.
12km to gopublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 2'00''
In the midst of that flurry of drama, the remaining peloton took on some more food and refreshment before this climb of the Col de Peyresourde.
It's all back together behind but Britain's Steve Cummings has taken advantage of the stall in the chase to maintain his two-minute advantage despite being further up the climb.
Froome and Aru off the roadpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Chris Froome and Fabio Aru are in trouble as first and second in the Tour shoot off the road between two campervans.
Team Sky's Mikel Nieve overshot the corner and went straight on and Froome and Aru followed.
Fortunately both were able to slow and stop before crashing, while Nieve miraculously carved a path between the campervans and away from the spectators.
The rest of the group slowed and waited for the two favourites. It was perhaps not the best place to attack, before the climb, anyway.
Postpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings is about to hit the start of the Col de Peyresourde - a 9.7km long climb of 7.8% average gradient.
What has the British champion got left?
A stunning effort so far on the 50th anniversary of the death of British cyclist Tom Simpson during the 1967 Tour.
18km to gopublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'57''
The peloton rolls through the 20km to go marker, but Steve Cummings is 2km up the road and extending his gap to almost two minutes.
He'll need every second possible to have a chance of victory.
Team Sky appear happy to let him have that time, knowing they can take it back later.
Cummings is a dangerous man to gift time to, though.
20km to gopublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'49''
Steve Cummings is even carving out a bit more time on the chasing peloton.
That peloton has been thinned out to just the overall favourites and their key climbing support now as Team Sky still set the tempo.
21km to gopublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'35''
Cummings is remarkably holding on to his advantage as the race charges towards the Peyresourde.
Postpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
So the Col de Peyresourde is next up as Steve Cummings speeds towards the category one climb.
Should he stay clear over the top of that, he still has one more nasty climb to tackle - a 2.4km drag of 8.4% average gradient to Peyragudes.
Our man OJ Borg has been out to look at the summit finish - the second of three in this year's Tour.
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25km to gopublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 13 July 2017
Cummings leads by 1'37''
Steve Cummings looks the epitome of focus on the descent, trying to maintain his advantage before hitting the Col de Peyresourde.
Meanwhile, Thomas de Gendt is about to be caught by the Team Sky train at the front of the peloton.
That same fate could soon befall Warren Barguil, too.