Power and pain as the battle for the Yellow Jersey hits the Pyrenees - Tour de France gallery

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France
(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

The mountain passes of the Pyrenees have played host to a myriad of Maillot Jaune battles over the history of the Tour de France. 

This year saw Tadej Pogačar tear up the Pla d'Adet to tighten his grip on yellow before moving even closer to a third Tour win on the Plateau de Beille 24 hours later. With Jonas Vingegaard looking like he was turning the tide on his rival earlier in the week, Pogačar showed that he was the strongest in the mountains of the Pyrenees on stages 14 and 15.

The Pyrenees provided a visually striking backdrop to the drama that unfolded on the road. The jagged peaks and lush valleys were the perfect accompaniment to a weekend of power and pain for the peloton.

Cyclingnews has curated the best of the images from ASO photographers and SWpix.com, capturing the highs and lows of the weekend's action.

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The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

The peloton roll out of Pau on a frantic stage 14

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Vistas like this were a feature of the weekend's action

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

World champion Mathieu van der Poel was active in the breakaway 

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Geraint Thomas among a group of dropped riders at the top of the Col du Tourmalet

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Tim Wellens on a descent

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

American champion Sean Quinn leads the breakaway

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Yellow Jersey Tadej Pogačar was expertly piloted by his team-mates 

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Louis Meintjes on the front

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Silvan Dillier cuts a lonely figure against the striking backdrop

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

The Pyrenees belonged to UAE Team Emirates

The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard in the group of favourites

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The peloton during stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Pogačar satisfied after his day's work on Saturday

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

A friendly face off before the hostilities began on stage 15

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Race Director Christian Prudhomme prepares to get the racing started

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

There was no time to enjoy the scenery on a blistering weekend - at least not for the riders

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Oier Lazkano was a regular feature in the weekend's breakaways

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

The peloton take on a winding descent

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO)

Mark Cavendish faced a tough battle against the time cut on stage 15

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Mark Cavendish after stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

It was close, but Cavendish made it through the Pyrenees

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

These legs, belonging to Pavel Sivakov, just completed almost 5000 metres of climbing in the Pyrenees

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Vingegaard holds his child after losing time on Plateau de Beille

The peloton during stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France

(Image credit: SWPix.com / Zac Williams)

Tadej Pogačar is closing in on a third yellow jersey

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Freelance writer

Dan is a freelance cycling journalist and has written for Cyclingnews since 2023 alongside other work with Cycling Weekly, Rouleur and The Herald Scotland. Dan focuses much of his work on professional cycling beyond its traditional European heartlands and writes a regular Substack called Global Peloton.