Image source, Getty Images

We know Tadej Pogacar is going to try absolutely everything to wrestle back control of the yellow jersey from Jonas Vingegaard over the remaining few days of the 2022 Tour de France.

But his big opportunities to turn things around are beginning to run out and these remaining two days in the Pyrenees will be crucial for him to make back time before the stage 20 time trial.

“It wasn’t such a bad day," Pogacar said after he was unable to take back time on Tuesday.

"It was hard to make differences in this stage. I tried to attack in the downhill but it hasn’t really worked out. I didn’t manage to attack Jonas. He was well escorted.

"The climbs will be longer in the coming two days. There will be more opportunities for attacking.”

Thibaut Pinot and Alexey Lutsenko are still out in front over the top of the second climb, as they begin the descent from Hourquette d'Ancizan. The lead pair have a one minute advantage.

Terrible luck for Simon Geschke! The Polka Dot jersey suffers a mechanical as he prepares to sprint for the mountain points among the chasing pack.

Adam Yates started the day in sixth overall, five minutes and 28 seconds behind the lead.

He's around one minute 30 seconds behind the peloton now, which has reduced the gap to the front of the race to one minute 18 seconds.

Adam Yates is in trouble.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider has dropped off the back of the peloton, as has Tom Pidcock, as Mikkel Bjerg pushes the pace for UAE Team Emirates. This is a huge effort.

Same again today, then?

"It's certainly a tough finish. It's going to be a solid one," Geraint Thomas told ITV before the start of today's stage.

On Tadej Pogacar and the general classification race, he added: "I don't know what doesn't suit him to be honest. He seems to be able to do it all.

"That battle [with Jonas Vingegaard] will be as intense as ever.

"On that last climb, hopefully I can be there with them."

Image source, Getty Images

Away we go on the ascent of the Hourquette d'Ancizan.

With eight kilometres of the category two climb to come, Thibaut Pinot and Alexey Lutsenko are working together nicely and hold a 30 second advantage to the chasing pack, with the peloton now two minutes away.

There are two Ineos Grenadiers in Dylan van Baarle and Jonathan Castroviejo lingering in the chase group. I wonder what Ineos are plotting today...

A reminder that Wout van Aert earlier guaranteed the green jersey, mathematically speaking, as he took 17 points with second spot in the intermediate sprint. It was pretty much never in doubt.

It's all his - so long as he can safely make it to the finish in Paris on Sunday.

Thibaut Pinto is first over the Col d'Aspin, with Alexey Lutsenko on his wheel.

Polka Dot jersey Simon Geschke breaks free from the chasing group to be the third rider over the opening climb.

On to Hourquette d'Ancizan we go!

The peloton are hovering at around one minute 20 seconds back.

Things didn't go too well for Romain Bardet yesterday.

The Frenchman was the big loser as he fell 6mins 37secs behind the overall lead and dropped to ninth in the general classification.

But he's looking much better today. Bardet has managed to break clear of the peloton as we close in on the top of the Col d'Aspin and he is in pursuit of the chasing group.

The main attractions of the stage 17 funfair are the col d’Aspin, Hourquette d’Ancizan, Val Louron-Azet and the uphill finish to Peyragudes.

Romain Bardet triumphed at Peyragudes five years ago, on a day when Fabio Aru also pinched the yellow jersey from Chris Froome as the Team Sky rider cracked on the brutal uphill finish.

Image source, Getty Images

We have just under three kilometres to go until the Col d'Aspin is conquered, and it is still Thibaut Pinot and Alexey Lutsenko leading the way.

The yellow jersey group is one minute back now - but there's a bunch of 15 in pursuit of the leading two riders, around 20 seconds behind.

It's certainly the calm before the inevitable storm in the latter stages of today's racing as far as the general classification is concerned.

Don't let the fist-bumps fool you. We can expect another gruelling heavyweight showdown between these two.

Image source, Getty Images

Here is how the general classification looks following stage 16.

We could see some big changes to this today...

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 64hrs 28mins 9secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates)+2:22
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +2:43
4. Nairo Quintana (Col/Team Arkea-Samsic) +4:15
5. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +4:24
6. Adam Yates (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +5:28
7. Louis Meintjes (Rsa/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +5:46
8. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) +6:18
9. Romain Bardet (Fra/Team DSM) +6:37
10. Tom Pidcock (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +10:11

Image source, Getty Images

Thibaut Pinot is joined by Alexey Lutsenko as Owain Doull is successfully reeled in, seizing their chance to take the lead on the road.

Not a bad lead pairing at all. They already have a 10 second advantage, with seven kilometres of the day's first climb to go.

Welshman Owain Doull is now out on his own at the front after putting distance between himself and Guillaume Boivin as the ascent of the col d'Aspin begins.

Nothing is getting completely clear of the peloton still, though. The gap to Doull is around 17 seconds. Thibaut Pinot takes a shot at getting away from the main group now...

This is a short but incredibly demanding mountain stage which crams in four categorised climbs in the final 76km.

Oh, and we're in for a summit finish at the Altiport 007 in Peyragudes too.

With 8km of climbing at an average gradient of almost 8%, the riders will also be conscious of an uphill kicker in the final 500m that rises to 13% at the line.

Image source, BBC Sport

The gap for Guillaume Boivin and Owain Doull off the front is now out to 26 seconds over the main peloton.

Behind them, teams are beginning to set up counter attacks in order to get riders in the break. Chris Froome is heading off again... Great to see the four-time champion near the front at the Tour once again.

It was some day for Israel – Premier Tech yesterday.

It was an emotional one too, as Hugo Houle recorded the biggest win of his career and paid tribute to his brother, Pierrik, who was killed a decade ago.

“I had one dream, win the stage for my brother, who died when I turned professional. I won it for him. It’s incredible, I’m just so happy," he said.

Italian Fabio Felline of Astana Qazaqstan Team has just abandoned the Tour, having been shown to be struggling off the back of the peloton.

At the front, Israel–Premier Tech's Guillaume Boivin and Owain Doull, of EF Education–EasyPost, are the latest to try their luck.