Stage 19

The road

At the start

Alpe d'Huez, back after four years

Pogačar's 4:32 is long past arguing with, but his team is thinning: Brandon McNulty abandoned yesterday, Adam Yates is unwell and Tim Wellens only just made the time cut at Orcières-Merlette. Behind yellow, Evenepoel, Del Toro and Seixas are covered by two and a half minutes for the rest of the podium. Today is short — 129 kilometres from Gap — and ends on Alpe d'Huez, climbed again tomorrow.

How it was won

1. 1124 km to go

   Straight up the Col Bayard

   The flag drops almost at the foot of a climb and the fight to make the move is savage; by the top of the Bayard a 42-rider break is taking shape.

2. 230 km to go

   Three and a half minutes into Bourg-d'Oisans

   The escape crests the Col d'Ornon and twists down towards Le Bourg-d'Oisans still 3:30 clear of the yellow jersey group — a cushion that looks generous, and isn't.

3. 312 km to go

   Pogačar attacks at the first hairpin

   The Tour's most famous mountain, back for the first time in four years, and the race leader waits exactly one bend. At the first hairpin of the Alpe, 12km from the summit, Pogačar stands on the pedals and is instantly alone — Del Toro, Evenepoel, Skjelmose and Seixas left to watch yellow disappear between the walls of people.

4. 49 km to go

   Carapaz can't shake his shadows

   Nine kilometres from the top Carapaz accelerates at the head of the race; only Martinez goes with him, and Kuss simply rides back on. He tries again at 7km, again at 5.4km — and the trio stays a trio.

5. 54 km to go

   Two minutes, and a wall of motorbikes

   By the 4km banner Pogačar has put two full minutes into the group he left and is 45 seconds off the leaders. Behind, Evenepoel's counter is blocked by a line of motos before he finally gets clear and takes 20 seconds out of Del Toro and Seixas.

6. 61 km to go

   Caught with 1.8km left

   Pogačar sweeps up Kuss, then Carapaz, then finally the Ecuadorian again with Martinez in tow — and with 800 metres to the line one last acceleration drops the two strongest men of the breakaway.

7. 7At the line

   Alpe d'Huez belongs to yellow

   A fifth stage win of the race, taken on the mountain that decides how Tours are remembered, with Martinez second and Carapaz third.

The result