Alexis Gougeard, Jasper Stuyven and Fred Wright are the three riders who find themselves out in front after that injection of chaos.

They have a lead of 20 seconds and are pressing on now with a tailwind, as Jumbo Visma try and wrestle back control of the peloton. Not a good sight for the sprinters...

It was Alexis Gougeard who launched an attack and Tadej Pogacar just follows his wheel and burst away from the peloton.

The peloton responds, bringing the white jersey back to them. It's all become rather lively!

Tadej Pogacar goes!

Of course he does!

The peloton follow Quinn Simmons over the top and then quickly bring him back on the descent.

It's all back together again at the front!

The second and final categorised climb of the day is upon us.

Quinn Simmons has an 11-second lead over the peloton as he rides up the Cote de Saint-Daunes.

But the peloton have him in their sights.

Image source, Getty Images

What a time Fabio Jakobsen has had this week. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rider made the time cut by just 15 seconds at Peyragudes on stage 17 and once again managed to stay in the race following yesterday's route to Hautacam.

Already today we've seen him hanging on to the main group. What a turnaround it would be if he could go and win today...

"Half of me didn't expect to be here," Jakobsen said. "I'm happy and grateful to be here.

"I'll give my very best. The finish is flat, more or less, so if there is still some sprint in the legs, I should be able to push it out there.

"For sure today is not a day for relaxing. There has not been one day in this Tour de France so far where we could relax, so for sure it's also not today."

Tadej Pogacar is joined by his three remaining UAE Team Emirates team-mates in an attempt to get him back to safety.

A big effort required, but they've managed to close down that gap. Phew.

Puncture for Tadej Pogacar!

Terrible timing!

Just as the peloton was coming back together, the defending champion suffers a front wheel puncture and now faces a big task to latch back on to the peloton which is being pushed on in the wind by the sprint teams.

Fabio Jakobsen manages to get back on - but he can't hold the wheel in front!

The peloton are continuing to ride at a steady pace but Jakobsen, who would have been hoping to be involved at the end of the stage, is hurting.

Splits in the group! Splits in the group!

The peace is disrupted. The crosswinds have caught the riders napping following that climb.

Quinn Simmons is out in front on his own after dropping Matej Mohoric, who has been swallowed up by the group 30 seconds back.

There appears to be trouble for Fabio Jakobsen, who is among those to fall foul of the gaps.

Quinn Simmons and Matej Mohoric burst clear of Mikkel Honore and Taco van der Hoorn at the top of the climb as the leaders rise up through the cobbled streets of Lauzerte.

Nobody goes from the peloton, so it's two groups of two at the front for the time being.

Right then, the front four are on the Cote de la Cite medievale de Lauzerte.

Their lead quickly comes down to 33 seconds as the peloton join the climb.

The road is lined with spectators all the way up this incline. Great scenes.

It's been 10 whole years since Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France.

10 years!

Geraint Thomas tried to take advantage as Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar watched each other closely yesterday, striking with an attack before the top two went past him once again.

It's been impossible for anyone to live with Vingegaard and Pogacar this year, but Thomas has produced a fine performance to stand clear as the best-of-the-rest.

The Briton is three minutes five seconds clear of fourth-placed David Gaudu.

We're closing in on Lauzerte and the first incline of the day.

A two kilometre long incline at an average gradient of 6.2%.

Here's a view of one of the steeper sections through the very narrow, cobbled streets towards the top.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Auch, where the earlier intermediate sprint took place, is the town of Nicolas Portal - the former head sport director of Team Sky, who died at the age of 40 in 2020.

He has been remembered on the route today.

Image source, Getty Images

The lead quartet are still around one minute clear.

But Mikkel Honore, Quinn Simmons, Taco van der Hoorn and Matej Mohoric are not being allowed to go any further out. The peloton are keeping them well within range.

There's around 20km to go until we reach the first of the day's two fourth category climbs.

Image source, Getty Images

Poor Simon Geschke. Denied the Polka Dot jersey on the final mountain stage.

The German is, however, still wearing the jersey today as the second-placed rider in the mountain classification - as the new king of the mountains is race leader Jonas Vingegaard.

“It’s a real shame. It’s a lovely jersey and I’ve enjoyed wearing it," Geschke said.

"The day was much too hard for me. The team was motivated by this objective, and they did a huge amount of work so I could go and get some more points, but it wasn't enough."

For the first time in Tour de France history, three different riders have won a stage while wearing the yellow jersey.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert.

Image source, Getty Images

Two competitive stages for the general classification contenders to get through.

Two more days for Jonas Vingegaard to survive before he can roll into Paris at let the celebrations commence.

"It's incredible," Vingegaard said following his stage win yesterday.

"I said to my girlfriend and my daughter I wanted to win for them and I did. I'm really happy and proud. This one is for my two girls at home.

"I was just happy that it finally ended. It was incredibly hard. Of course I am incredibly happy that I won the stage.

"There are two more days to come until we are in Paris and we must stay focused."

Image source, Getty Images