Stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam,143.2km
The last high-altitude test of the race features the legendary Col d'Aubisque
Iconic finish at Hautacam in stage with two hors category climbs
Jonas Vingegaard in leader's yellow jersey with 2mins 18secs lead over Tadej Pogacar
Britain's Geraint Thomas third overall, 4mins 56secs off lead
Great news for Simon Geschke! Giulio Ciccone loses contact as Wout van Aert raises the pace once again at the front, having been alerted to Brandon McNulty's efforts back down the road. If Ciccone can't recover, it could mean Geschke just about hangs on to the Polka Dot jersey. Just about.
With Brandon McNulty on the front, the yellow jersey group is quickly reducing the gap to the front of the race.
A four-minute lead has quickly become three minutes with seven kilometres of the Col de Spandelles climb to go.
They're closing in on the Louis Meintjes group.
It's Jumbo Visma duo Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert pushing the pace at the front now.
Oh and here comes Brandon McNulty!
The UAE Team Emirates rider, fresh from obliterating the race yesterday, moves to the front of the yellow jersey group.
Tom Pidcock is among several riders quickly distanced.
The steepest section of this category one climb reaches 9.7% after four kilometres. Ouch.
The peloton have just joined the Spandelles fun.
Right then, on to the Col de Spandelles!
Bauke Mollema leads the front group up the second climb of the day. The yellow jersey group are over four minutes back.
A little move to the front of the peloton by Tadej Pogacar. A hint at an attack? Nope, it's all under control for now. Less than 50km for the defending champion to make his big move.
At 23 years and 302 days, Pogacar became the third-youngest rider in history to have reached 12 Grand Tour wins yesterday, after Giuseppe Saronni (21 years, 256 days) and Francois Faber (23 years and 164 days).
His victory also ensured he maintained his record of winning at least three stages at every Grands Tour he has entered - including at the Tour de France in three successive years.
Image source, Getty ImagesLook at that view!
Not that the riders will be able to appreciate it once they're up there...
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Another rider having a great day so far is Louis Meintjes.
The South African, and Australian Chris Hamilton, are the second group on the road, are over two minutes ahead of the peloton.
That means Meintjes is currently fourth in the general classification, moving above Nairo Quintana, David Gaudu and Romain Bardet. Great move!
Here's the confirmed mountain points from the col d'Aubisque:
Ciccone has that Polka Dot jersey fully in his sights now.
Next up for the riders will be the category one Col de Spandelles, a 10.3km climb with an average slope of 8.3% - making it the steepest of the day.
The Spandelles pass is featuring in the Tour de France for the first time and, while it's not going to be pleasant for the riders, it promises to make for a great spectacle for the rest of us.
The yellow jersey group rides over the Col d'Aubisque three minutes and 20 seconds behind Giulio Ciccone.
The front group expands to 26 riders as the chase group including Bob Jungels catches up on the downhill.
Giulio Ciccone eases clear of the competition to take the 20 mountain points at the top of Col d'Aubisque.
It leaves him just three points behind Simon Geschke in the race for the Polka Dot jersey. It looks very likely that it will be changing hands today.
Over the top of the day's first hors categorie climb we go!
The front group, still 17-riders strong, is led by Wout van Aert as the leaders close in on the 1709m peak of the Col d'Aubisque.
Jumbo Visma do have Wout van Aert and Tiesj Benoot up the road in the front group. It remains to be seen what role they are required to play.
Tadej Pogacar only has Brandon McNulty left for support.
On to the final two kilometres of the Col d'Aubisque.
Jumbo Visma have wrestled control of the peloton and for the first time today it feels as though the race has settled down. We've had half of the stage already!
The yellow jersey group are now over two minutes 30 seconds behind the front of the race.
The top of the Col d'Aubisque is three kilometres away.
Bad news for Simon Geschke. He's been caught by the peloton and immediately falls out the back door. His Polka Dot jersey is going to be under serious threat today.
The front group, led by the likes of Bauke Mollema and Giulio Ciccone, is down to around 23 riders now heading into the final six kilometres of the Col d'Aubisque.
They're one minute 10 seconds ahead of the next group, featuring Louis Meintjes, with the peloton at two minutes back.
Speaking after his stage win yesterday, Tadej Pogacar said:
“The way the team rode today with only four riders, just to take the stage win is already incredible. We can all be proud of what we have done. Without Rafal [Majka], George [Bennett], Vegard [Stake Laengen] and [Marc] Soler, we couldn’t try more.
"We’ll see tomorrow if there is another chance but for now I’m happy that I won today. I gave absolutely everything. I knew I had to win the stage for the team. There was no other way.
"I’m optimistic that I can still win the Tour. Tomorrow is a harder stage, so we can try again.”
Image source, Getty ImagesLouis Meintjes, seventh in the general classification, attacks from the peloton and is joined by Georg Zimmermann and Kobe Goossens.
He began the day three seconds behind Romain Bardet and around one minute 30 behind both David Gaudu and Nairo Quintana.
There are riders spread all over the road with nine kilometres of the Col d'Aubisque climb remaining.
Here's what Jonas Vingegaard had to say after finishing second on stage 17 yesterday:
“I’m disappointed to have missed out on the stage win but it was a very explosive finish that suited Tadej more than me. There’s not much more I could do and he deserves his victory.
"I had no problem at the end. Even though I was alone at some point, I’m not disappointed. It was a difficult stage and I only lose four seconds.
"I was ready to fight. UAE Team Emirates did a very good job. I hope I’ll have recovered tomorrow. I don’t want to think of the victory yet. There’ll be other difficult days, in the mountains of course but also the time trial.”
Image source, Getty Images