Welcome to Friday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Alex Bowden and the rest of the team.
26/07/2019, 20:19
Tomorrow's route is going to be altered due to weather conditions
Due to the difficult weather conditions expected tomorrow and land slides noticed, the course of the 20th stage of the Tour de France will be modified.
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 18:33
Alaphilippe finally relinquishes Yellow Jersey - but what a 14 days that was
He shocked the "GC contenders" on La Planche de Belles Filles, he put everything on the line in the ITT in Pau, and then he survived the Pyrenees again and again. Who knows how today might have ended.
Thank you Julian Alaphilippe, you have made this Tour de France.
And don't worry, he's still smiling.
Alaphilippe still having fun at the finish despite the chaos and losing yellow ( Bettini) #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/n2m46cO05o
— Daniel Ostanek (@LVCKV) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 18:23
Yep. That is exactly how we felt.
When you first find out the stage is cancelled
NOTE: We 100% agree with the decision of the race, but nothing beats a initial shock reaction #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/9IdOZJ3XC7
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 18:09
"I fully support him (Bernal) now... we all said last year he'll win the tour one day, maybe we didn't quite expect it to be this year..."
"Egan is in yellow now so the main thing is that he finishes the job."@GeraintThomas86 is putting his full support behind @Eganbernal for the remainder of @LeTour#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/ln0ew7DLFE
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 17:45
Bernal becomes the third Colombian to wear the Yellow Jersey - can he be the first to win it?
Egan Bernal is the third Colombian rider to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey, after Victor Hugo Pena and Fernando Gaviria.
— CafeRoubaix (@CafeRoubaix) July 26, 2019
We absolutely love this@Eganbernal shows exactly how much it means to wear the yellow jersey of @LeTour#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/SI8BtQEeoc
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 17:14
First look at provisional GC standings after chaotic stage
#TDF2019
With the times been taken at the top of the Iseran. This is the new GC going into tomorrow's decisive stage.1. Egan Bernal
2. Julian Alaphilippe, at 45’’
3. Geraint Thomas, at 1’03’’
4. @s_kruijswijk, at 1’15’’
5. Emanuel Buchmann, at 1’42’’Still all to play for pic.twitter.com/GPZtR8Lq1s
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:52
Was the cancellation a blessing in disguise for Julian Alaphilippe?
Would Alaphilippe have lost more time on the final climb to Tignes? Would Thomas have attacked again? And most importantly, did a group of crafty Frenchmen cause those landslides?
Julian Alaphilippe, after today’s cancelled stage pic.twitter.com/ya5iW10Ptl
— The Cycling Podcast (@cycling_podcast) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:44
No stage winner as Egan Bernal is announced as the new race leader
Official word from @LeTour organizers: no stage winner, no most aggressive on today's weather-neutralized stage. Egan Bernal (INS) is the new race leader: "For the overall classification, the times at Col d'Iseran will apply."#TDF2019
— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:31
Sean Kelly ignores everyone else and pushes on to the finish line
Sean Kelly seems to have just kept on riding to the finish in Tignes! #TDF19pic.twitter.com/gfk6N7Hf9c
— Bas Tietema (@BasTietema) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:25
Live scenes from the Tour...
Nothing to see here... pic.twitter.com/PrLMRCrI40
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) July 2, 2019
Luckily they called it off before it ended up like this...
26/07/2019, 16:24
26/07/2019, 16:19
"These things happen and they happen so quickly in the mountains you have to react to the conditions" - Bradley Wiggins
Here's a provisional result from stage 19. We are still waiting for an official GC confirmation.#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/OQ1a6vBVdP
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:15
More pictures coming out from spectators on the road
Might be hard for the riders to even drive to the finish. https://t.co/7YrHnh8izj
— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:12
Confusion as to what happens next for this years Tour
So we've been robbed of a stage of racing.
If only there was an extra day of this Tour which is usually set aside for faffing about that they could use now instead to actually do some racing.
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) July 26, 2019
More confusion now. Some at finish suggesting there’s no tissot timing at the top of the Iseran, so questions asked as to where any official times may be taken.
— Rob Hatch (@robhatchtv) July 26, 2019
Live from the Tour de France commissaire office pic.twitter.com/n6YYdqJBwJ
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 16:00
Fair to say the riders are not happy...
@vincenzonibali reacting to that news in the most Italian way possible pic.twitter.com/JvIqYE2X42
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:57
Landslide and flood block the road causing stage cancellation
Landslide at Tour de France pic.twitter.com/bxDi6dpF5w
— Richard Moore (@richardmoore73) July 26, 2019
This looks to be the reason why the race was stopped#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/cbF3NHHEUH
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:51
Pictures of the state of the road on the descent
The day's course has been called due to adverse weather conditions, rider times have been taken at Col de l'Iseran.
La course est arrêtée à cause des conditions climatiques. Les temps sont pris en haut du Col de l'Iseran.#TDF2019— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 26, 2019
#TDF2019
This is why the stage to Tignes has been neutralised. As soon as we will know more what will happen we'll let you know. pic.twitter.com/8ZOJMsANv9— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:44
The stage has been cancelled! Descent of Iseran not rideable due to ice!
Stage 19 is cancelled. Time taken from the top of the Iseran.
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:40
Bernal solo in the lead as he begins the descent of the Iseran
What a race. What a day not to be french. Alaphilippe has two minutes to make up to Egan Bernal on this descent.
Oh and its hailing. This should be good.
Jonathan Vaughters sums this up best;
Old skool bike racin.
— Jonathan Vaughters (@Vaughters) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:35
Number of people killed on London’s roads falls to lowest level on record
But the number of serious injuries rose.
26/07/2019, 15:29
Bernal attacks on the back of Thomas attack - he is now the virtual yellow jersey
@Eganbernal joins @WarrenBarguil at the front of the race.
Egan Bernal rejoint Warren Barguil, qui état seul en tête de la course.#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/kQO2TIJDge— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 26, 2019
The yellow jersey is currently 1'30 behind Bernal and Simon Yates and 1'00 behind Thomas.
26/07/2019, 15:22
Alaphilippe dropped as Ineos attack
Thomas attacks on stage 19!
Watch live now!
@ITV4
https://t.co/mYOWLS1AvMpic.twitter.com/3IKa9E2V2d— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 15:02
The Col d'Iseran is here, is this where the Tour will be decided?
The Col d'Iseran, in 1938 pic.twitter.com/DN5AZ8FXq9
— Feargal McKay (@fmk_RoI) July 26, 2019
The riders are facing the first slopes up Col de l'Iseran, #TDF2019's highest summit.
Only 20 riders left in the #MaillotJaune group.#TDFdatapic.twitter.com/tpw4cg9t0y
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 14:53
Dr Hutch makes his prediction; Bernal for the stage?
Riders today spending the entire last two hours of the stage about 1500m, i.e. higher than Boulder, Colorado. That's the key to the stage, and it points towards Egan Bernal. #tdf2019
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 14:33
At least Pinot's support team are looking out for him...
As Pinot steps into the car in tears, one of the pool photographers pushes it too far and gets a kick in the nuts and a firm push backwards from his clearly-furious support team. pic.twitter.com/kOcp1sAMb6
— Joe Soap (@JoeSoap76) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 14:30
Groupama-FDJ give statement on Pinot abandon
Thibaut suffers from a muscular lesion on his left thigh. Yesterday, he finished stage 18 with a sharp pain and had troubles walking in the evening. His condition didn't improve today, he just withdrew from the #TDF2019.
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 14:02
Pinot has abandoned the Tour!
Pinot abandons in tears after losing over 3minutes in a few short kilometres.
Abandon de Thibaut Pinot ! Le coureur de la Groupama-FDJ renonce à continuer en pleurs dans les bras de William Bonnet. #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/cJ9NSmuIIg
— Le Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) July 26, 2019
For the riders left, a long hard day is only just beginning as a strong breakaway has finally formed.
A very hard battle in the first lumpy 35 km has seen a strong group of attackers emerge, featuring two riders inside the GC top 10: Rigoberto Uran and Alejandro Valverde.
Team Ineos are now driving a 56-man bunch.#TDF2019#TDFdatapic.twitter.com/7N6ykkBzNe
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 14:05
Thibaut Pinot's knee goes
Pinot's problem!@ThibautPinot appears to be struggling with what looks like an injury to his left leg.#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/xe3H0MQ9gl
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 13:50
Pinot looks to be out of the race after receiving medical attention
There are rumours it was a bee sting, but whatever it was it looks like the Frenchman's Tour de France GC hopes are over after he loses over 2 minutes to the peloton. Notable that none of his team mates have waited for him. It's all down to Alaphilippe now.
@ThibautPinot has already fallen 2 minutes behind the peloton.
⏱️ Thibaut Pinot est déjà à deux minutes du peloton.#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/EFwKy2gJyS— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 13:25
There's only one Bradley Wiggins
26/07/2019, 13:05
Stage 19 is underway, will there be a frenchman in yellow at the end of the day?
The peloton is twitching as the short stage kicks off with lots of riders trying to get into the breakaway
Before Julian Alaphilippe, only 7 French riders had worn the Maillot Jaune for at least 14 days on a single Tour de France. They all won the race except for René Vietto in 1947.#TDF2019#TDFdatapic.twitter.com/kX0sVtmqYB
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 13:04
26/07/2019, 12:32
West Midlands seeking new bike-share supplier after only 25 out of 5,000 bikes were delivered
Nextbike struggled to find a corporate sponsor for the scheme.
26/07/2019, 12:14
Alaphilippe hands over the yellow jersey...sort of
By now you have probably all seen this video of Julian Alaphilippe being the gentlemen his moustache implies him to be and handing the yellow jersey to a kid who was a bit cold at the end of yesterdays stage.
El vídeo más emotivo de este Tour de Francia 2019
La historia entera aquí https://t.co/E23XizRWX6pic.twitter.com/Iz5qau1jd2— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) July 25, 2019
But there's always one person who has to make the inevitable joke...
26/07/2019, 11:16
This is what's in store for them today
Stage 19 / Étape 19
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Tignes
Discover the 3D route of Stage 19.
Découvrez le parcours 3D de l'Étape 19.#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/MuZLcobpV7— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 26, 2019
26/07/2019, 11:13
A day for the sprinters?
Me looking at today’s stage of the #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/BFUdG8iUno
— Caleb Ewan (@CalebEwan) July 26, 2019
No, it is not a day for the sprinters.
26/07/2019, 10:58
Riders to boycott national 25-mile time trial, urging move away from dual carriageway courses
Team Ribble riders Dan Bigham, John Archibald and Si Wilson will boycott this weekend’s RTTC National 25 mile time trial.
The event is due to be held on the A25/11 course near Derby which runs along the A50.
The riders say that the A50 is unsafe for cyclists and have urged governing body Cycling Time Trials to move away from using dual carriageways.
.@Cycling_T_T Nat 25 this weekend. Myself, @jjzarchibald& @Si_Wilson won’t be lining up on the start line. We discussed this with @TeamRibble& they’ve supported our decision. As a local road I drive on many times a week, it’s not one I’m willing to ride on #MoreCircuitTTsPleasehttps://t.co/Uvj4Wkc63q
— Dan Bigham (@DanBiggles22) July 24, 2019
26/07/2019, 10:19
How to apply suncream to a giant
Teamwork makes the dream work https://t.co/i9rmKJCTzL
— Conor Dunne (@conordunnealot) July 26, 2019
Israel Cycling Academy is taking teamwork to a new level here...
26/07/2019, 09:20
'Tour de Plastic': more must be done about 15 million plastic freebies handed out to spectators, say environmentalists
Reuters report that environmentalists are urging Tour de France organisers to rethink the handing out of freebies to spectators from corporate trucks on route, due to the amount of plastic waste it generates.
The crowd are thrown essentials like bottles of water, but also keyrings, t-shirts and various other objects that amounts to over 15 million plastic-wrapped objects over the Tour. A few years ago, that number was as high as 18 million.
Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de France director, responded to the demand for action with a letter in L’Equipe saying that sponsors now had to pledge to reduce plastic, and that items such as caps and t-shirts were no longer distributed in plastic wrapping.
The Tour's main caterer is now handing out cutlery made out of bamboo instead of plastic, ahead of the EU's ban on many single-use plastic items in 2021.
26/07/2019, 09:14
The other Nairo...
Yes its true. I moonlight as a Colombian racing cyclist and I just won the Tour de France pic.twitter.com/ZyOkatoKYj
— NRG Nairo (@NairoMK) July 25, 2019
This one is apparently a professional Super Smash Bros player, not a Colombian bike racer...
26/07/2019, 08:50
Just another day at the Tour de France
The only Links Rechts video you’ll ever need. Beefeaters, Bananaman, kids forced to where our hats whether they like it or not......oh and a T’Rex on his way to the shops . Peak Beefeater Bend! #TDF#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/iTlvZUnVWH
— Beefeater Bend (@tdfbeefeaters) July 25, 2019
It's Friday, so here are some Beefeaters, a banana, a T-Rex and various others dancing to really bad europop.