Stage 19 - Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors, 188.3km
Flat stage offers chance for sprinters to contest victory
Jonas Vingegaard overall lead cut slightly to three minutes 21 seconds after stage 19
Tadej Pogacar second in general classification, Britain's Geraint Thomas third
Race ends with processional final stage into Paris on Sunday, following 40.7km individual time-trial on Saturday
There's been no change in the situation on the road.
With 90kms remaining, Mikkel Honore, Quinn Simmons, Taco van der Hoorn and Matej Mohoric, travelling at an average speed of 47.0km/h, still have one minute on the peloton as they pass through Auvillar.
Image source, Getty ImagesTadej Pogacar launched several attacks on the Col de Spandelles, which separated the day's two major ascents on the Col d'Aubisque and the iconic finish at Hautacam but, on each occasion, the yellow jersey was equal to his efforts.
Jumbo Visma played their cards perfectly, with Wout van Aert up the road and ready to help Vingegaard break Pogacar on the final ascent.
"There couldn't be a better way to lose the Tour de France than this," Pogacar said.
"I gave it all today. I will leave the race with no regrets. There is still one stage left I might win before Paris, and I will push for it."
"I gave it all on the second-to-last climb. I feel I still had something left for an attack on the final climb. Unfortunately, I crashed, and the crash took its toll from me.
"I have nothing but respect to Jonas Vingegaard. I think we respect each other a lot."
Yesterday we witnessed another brilliant stage in what has been a breathless Tour.
But despite the fierce competition for yellow, with Tadej Pogacar giving his all to try and wear Jonas Vingegaard down, there was still room for a superb act of sportsmanship.
It will, rightly, be the enduring image of the 2022 Tour.
Pogacar, shaking Vingegaard's hand, after the race leader waited for him following the Slovenian's crash on the Spandelles descent.
Great stuff.
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We've still got over 100km remaining today and the lead quartet of Mikkel Honore, Quinn Simmons, Taco van der Hoorn and Matej Mohoric now have an advantage of over one minute to the peloton.
As the riders pass Marsac, they're out in the open fields. It remains to be seen whether crosswinds may have an impact today...
Chris Froome knows all about how that feels.
The British four-time champion tested positive for coronavirus before yesterday's stage.
It followed a Tour in which he had shown signs of a return to form as he aims to get back to full fitness after being seriously injured in a crash in 2019, and came with just four days of the race remaining. Tough one to take.
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Movistar's Enric Mas became the latest rider to be forced to withdraw from the race after returning a positive Covid-19 test this morning.
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Mikkel Honore, Quinn Simmons, Taco van der Hoorn, Matej Mohoric and Nils Politt were the five-man group to dart up the road at the start of stage 19.
The riders had to briefly stop because of a protest on the road with over 150km remaining, before the lead group were allowed to set off again one minute and 20 seconds ahead.
Since then, we've had an intermediate sprint. Simmons took the full 20, ahead of Politt, with Wout van Aert taking nine points behind Jasper Philipsen from the peloton.
The gap between the groups was allowed to stretch out to over two minutes, but the peloton has swiftly brought that down to 45 seconds.
It's a group of four at the front now, after Politt was dropped in another attack with the peloton closing in.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Pyrenees are fading into the background and there's a time trial to come in tomorrow's penultimate stage.
A quiet one in store today? Hmm.
We're heading to Cahors, presenting a chance for those sprinters who have survived to this point to show what they have left in reserve.
Starting from Castelnau-Magnoac, there are just two fourth category climbs at Cote de la Cite medievale de Lauzerte and Cote de Saint-Daunes to tackle.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesDenmark's Jonas Vingegaard is three days away from winning the 2022 Tour De France after he extended his overall lead with a stunning victory on stage 18.
The yellow jersey finished one minute and four seconds clear of defending champion Tadej Pogacar after dropping his rival on the final climb on the Hautacam with team-mate Wout van Aert.
The 25-year-old leads by three minutes 26 seconds with today's flat stage and Saturday's individual time trial to come before Sunday's traditional processional stage into Paris.
Could it actually be?
A chance for the sprinters?
They'll believe it when they see it.
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