As it happened: Alpe d'Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France

Hello and welcome to stage 19 of the Tour de France - which this year, is Alpe d'Huez day!

This is Alpe d'Huez day at the Tour de France, but not the only one - for the first time ever, it will be raced two days in a row.

But today is the day where the climb takes centre stage, tackled via its hardest side, and the headline climb of the day, much harder than the three that precede it. The climb is often talked about for its decisive role in the race for the yellow jersey - that feels like what today’s ascent will be.

Tour de France 2026 stage 19 preview - It's time to make history with the first of two back-to-back mountaintop finishes on the iconic Alpe d'Huez

The yellow jersey had felt all wrapped up, with Pogačar coasting to victory, but there’s an air of doubt surrounding him and the team now. Illness is circulating the team, and suddenly they look a lot weaker than previously at this Tour, and are unable to exercise as firm a grip.

With this comes the lingering possibility that Pogačar either is, or could become sick. And if ever there’s a climb you can’t afford not to be firing on all cylinders on, it’s Alpe d'Huez.

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All eyes are on Tadej Pogačar.at the start today. How is he feeling? Could he possibly be sick?Or is he about to make history, and add Alpe d'Huez to the long list of famous summits he has won on?

The riders are on the move in Gap, and heading towards the official start and the flag. Anticipation is brewing!

Tadej Pogačar at the start with Valentin Paret-Peintre, who still wears his polka-dot jersey on loan. Expect the latter to attack towards the start in an aim to pick up enough points to take the jersey outright.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! And immediately they're climbing, up the category two Col Bayard (4.7km at 7.1%). Already sprinters are being dropped out of the peloton, and attacks attempted out of the front The first group to go clear has four riders in it - Healy, Quinn, Gee-West and Tobias Halland Johannessen.

Rubio and Martin did briefly join those leading four, and now dozens of other riders have joined them. It's a group almost big enough to be called a peloton - a lot of riders are desperate to get away into the break today. How will UAE cope with controlling things?

KOM - COL BAYARD

Carapaz and Paret-Peintre are both in this breakaway group, and, as ever, sprint for the KOM points. It's the usual outcome, with the latter out-kicking the former.

Meanwhile in the peloton, which is 35 seconds adrift, UAE have lost Wellens and Vermeersch, who have both been dropped.

A rider in the top ten has managed to sneak into the break, which has a lead of one minute - Lenny Martinez, who is seventh overall at 12:50. This could cause the teams of riders ahead of him, notably Lidl-Trek and Decathlon CMA CGM, to chase.

Also among the 40 or so riders in this group are Pedersen, Arensman, O’Connor, Voisard and Tobias Halland Johannessen, plus the stage-hunting Visma trio of Jorgenson, Kuss and Piganzoli, and UAE's satellite rider Adam Yates, who is clearly feeling much better than a few days ago.

110KM TO GO

Lidl-Trek (pictured here at the start) are the main team pushing at the front of the breakaway group, along with EF - despite the fact that Martinez could leapfrog their GC men Skjelmose and Ayuso. They're prioritising the green jersey, with Pedersen in the group, and just one more (albeit hard) climb for him to survive until the intermediate sprint.

Their work is seeing the group move away from the peloton, which is now 1:30 adrift.

The riders are climbing again, and this time its a category one climb, the Col du Noyer. It's not as hard as Alpe d'Huez, but with an average of 8.4% for 7.3km it's still a tough one, and could see the break split up with the superior climbers going clear.

The break's lead continues to grow, now up to 1:50.

Fears about UAE Team Emirates XRG have been mostly allayed so far. Wellens is being dropped again now having made his way back on the descent, but Pogačar still has Del Toro, Großschartner, Politt and Vermeersch (who is leading it currently) in the peloton with him, while Yates was strong enough to get himself into the break.

The team also insist that their leader is feeling fine.

'Tadej is OK' – UAE Team Emirates play down doubts about Tadej Pogačar's health after illness strikes Tour de France team

KOM - COL DU NOYER

EF were unable to carry out their plan as outlined by DS Charly Wegelius at the top of the climb, as Paret-Peintre jumped early 200m from the summit, again out-sprinting Carapaz for the 10 points.

Paret-Peintre is now virtual leader in the classification, which he has made his aim at this Tour de France to win.

'The goal is to be at the front and fight for this jersey' – Valentin Paret-Peintre continues Tour de France polka dot battle against Pogačar and Carapaz on Alpe d'Huez

Red Bull have joined UAE at the front of the peloton as they take on the descent of the climb, which is shallower and longer than the way they went up it.

As things stand they're giving the break a great chance of succeeding, as they've allowed them to get 3:35 up the road. The upcoming 50km or so will be crucial as to determining the break's chances, as they're mostly valley roads, where they will need to build and maintain a big lead to hold off the inevitable charge of the GC riders on the final climb.

90KM TO GO

3:30 now for the break.

There are a lot of teams represented in it that will be desperate for it to succeed, and to have a shot at winning a stage before times run out - perhaps most of all, Netcompany Ineos. They've endured a tough race, but are still fighting, and have Arensman Foss and Tarling up the road today.

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80KM TO GO

3:20 is the gap between the peloton and the leaders. It's looking promising for the break, but they will need to grow it more on this valley road.

The scenery is spectacular here in the Alps. But Alpe d'Huez will be a whole different beast, with every inch of roadside covered in fans. It promises to be some spectacle, that also has the potential to get chaotic.

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CRASH

Two riders have gone down in the peloton - Haller and Planckaert. They're both back up and riding again after hitting some road furniture protected by padding, but it took Haller a while.

70KM TO GO

The UAE and Red Bull teammates of Pogačar and Evenepoel are pulling at the front of the peloton. The fate of this stage will largely depend on how much they (especially the former) want to bring back the break and go for the stage win, and so far the signs are that they are keen to. With 70km to go, they are keeping the break at about 3:30.

Along with Visma-Lease a Bike, EF Education-EasyPost are, yet again, doing much of the work at the front of the breakaway group. Despite winning the stage yesterday with Richard Carapaz, both the team and the rider are hungry for more success today.

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60KM TO GO

Visma's staff are happy with how they're riders are going, and their quartet of Jorgenson, Kuss, Piganzoli and Armirail are working hard at the front of the break. They've helped grow the lead out to just short of four minutes.

DNF - AFFINI

Despite their good work in the break, Visma-Lease a Bike are now down a rider - Edoardo Affini has just abandoned the race. He had looked better at this race, after going into it with injury scares, but will not make it to Paris.

The break are nearing the intermediate sprint, which is 10km away. This is the reason Pedersen has gotten into the break yet again, and he has Gee-West, Vacek and Simmons with him to help ensure he gets the points.

Another 25 points would give him a very healthy lead in the classification, and make it very hard for Philipsen to take the green jersey from him.

The indefatigable Ben Healy has at last reached his limit. Having yet again gotten into the break, and yet again done much of the work at the front, he’s sat up and dropped out of the break, and is waiting for the peloton to absorb him.

It may be some wait, however. The peloton is now 4:20 behind the break, who are improving their chances of staying clear for the stage win.

40KM TO GO

Pinarello have started to join Red Bull and UAE in setting the pace in the peloton. Presumably they’re responding to Lenny Martinez’s presence in the break, who was one place above their leader Tom Pidcock on GC in seventh, and is now up to virtual fifth, with the break’s lead up to 4:30.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Pedersen takes the points at the intermediate sprint uncontested. Him and his Lidl team have done brilliant work these past couple of days to solidify the Dane's lead in the points classification, and now leads his main rival Jasper Philipsen by 57 points.

The road up to the intermediate sprint was uphill, and continues that way for a while before the official start of the day's penultimate climb, the category two Col d'Ornon. Already some riders are being dropped, including, surprisingly, Jorgenson.

Paret-Peintre has also been dropped from the lead group, which is now being led by Movistar and Visma-Lease a Bike. This is bad news for his polka-dot jersey hopes, as rival Carapaz is still in the group and looking comfortable.

Here's the scene at Alpe d'Huez further up the road. Every ascent of the famous climb is a memorable occasion, but the novelty of this year's double-ascent, and the sheer number of crowds who have flocked there as a result, means this promises to be something uniquely special.

Alpe d'Huez – A history of the most famous 21 turns of the Tour de France

30KM TO GO

More and more riders are being dropped from this break as they ascend the 6.2% slopes of the 5.5km Col d’Ornon. UAE’s Yates has gone, Piganzoli has gone, as has Lidl’s Gee-West, Vacek and Pedersen are all finished.

In fact, Lidl have changed tactics now that the intermediate sprint has come and gone, and have a rider pacing at the front of the peloton - they’re back to riding for GC, and defending Ayuso and Skjelmose from Lenny Martinez, who continues to ride in the lead group.

KOM - COL D'ORNON

Richard Carapaz takes the KOM points at the top, and has a much easier time of it this time with no Paret-Peintre to challenge him. He closes the gap to the Frenchman in the virtual standings - and could do so more if the break can hold off the peloton. It's still in the balance, with the break 4 minutes up the road.

Here are the new KOM rankings:

1 Paret-Peintre 84

2 Carapaz 79

3 Pogačar 70

The peloton has really thinned out on this climb! UAE’s Großschartner is pulling hard, and the only riders left with him as they crest the climb are teammates Pogačar and Del Toro, plus Evenepoel and his teammates Hindley and Van Gils, plus Seixas, Prodhomme, Ayuso, Skjelmose and Pidcock.

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15KM TO GO

As they approach the foot of the famous Alpe, the break’s lead is 3:30 - they have a chance.

It’ll be fascinating to see which of those riders still in the lead group will be strongest on Alpe d'Huez - will Carapaz have enough left in the tank after his efforts to win yesterday? Can Kuss help redeem Visma’s race? Will Johannessen land another one for Uno-X? Can Arensman finally win one of Netcompany? Or will Martinez grab the stage as well as leap up the GC? It’s a hard one to call, and promises to be a thriller.

ALPE D'HUEZ

It begins! Armirail leads the break onto the climb, which is already lined with fans right from the bottom. And the damage is already being done - Cattaneo and Benoot are dropped almost straight away.

And now Mads Pedersen leads the peloton onto the climb, 3:20 behind the break. It’s bigger than it was at the summit of the previous climb, with riders dropping back from the break and returning from behind, but is set to thin out again now.

Ayuso has been dropped! He follows Pidcock, who went a little earlier. This could be a tough day for the Spaniard, but his Lidl teammate Skjelmose is still in the much-diminished yellow jersey group.

In the lad group, Arensman attacks and has been joined by Martinez, Kuss and Carapaz have joined him. The cream of this breakaway is rising to the top.

POGACAR ATTACKS

He's made his move, and nobody has followed! Behind Seixas has a teammate in Prodhomme setting a pace, in a group with Evenepoel, Hindley, Skjelmose and Del Toro.

Pogačar has bridged up to Yates, who is giving him a turn. They're over 30 seconds up on the Evenepoel group already.

Meanwhile the leading group of Kuss, Carapaz and Martinez are 2:30 ahead of him. Arensman has been dropped from the group.

10KM TO GO

Carapaz is eager to go clear, trying to accelerate, but still has Kuss and Martinez.

As well as moving up on GC, Martinez is also in contention to become the first French winner of this Tour. But can they hold off the Pogačar charge? He's 2:30 behind.

Pogačar has used up Yates, and is back riding solo again. He had slowed down while riding on the Brit's wheel, but is both closing a gap on the three leaders (who are attacking each other rather than working together) to just over two minutes, and increasing his lead to the Evenepoel chase group (which is being led by Seixas's teammate Benoot, who dropped back from the break) to 45 seconds.

The three leaders at the front. Kuss was dropped momentarily, but managed to rejoin.

Pogačar is still on the charge, now 1:40 behind, while the chase group is now being led by Seixas, with Evenepoel, Skjelmose, Del Toro and Cattaneo also present.

Kuss makes his own attack after being dropped, but doesn't go clear, and the three leaders remain together.

Pogačar is still coming - he's 1:10 behind, while the Evenepoel chase group is a whole 1:20 behind.

5KM TO GO

Carapaz attacks again, and again Kuss is dropped, only to claw his way back. These three look evenly-matched, but are all going slower than the yellow jersey, who is just 50 seconds behind now.

There's barely an inch of space on the road, but the fans are behaving well, and parting enough to allow the attacks - which continue to constantly come among the lead trio.

Pogačar can see Carapaz, Kuss and Martinez ahead of him, who are now only 13 seconds ahead. The catch is about to be made...

EVENEPOEL ATTACKS

Remco makes a move! He's attacked out of the group of favourite, trying to make his through the jammed crowds. Is there space for him to pass the motorbikes?

Here he comes! Pogačar passes Kuss, and then Martinez, and now he’s coming for Carapaz, who at last managed to drop the others. Pog still has 2.5km to catch him.

Martinez remains glued to Pog's wheel, and the pair have caught Carapaz. This isn't over yet though - can the brekaway pair hang on to his wheel for the final 1.7km?

Meanwhile Evenepoel has a small gap over the other group of GC contenders.

Pogačar tries an attack..but can't shed them! This could be a fascinating finales.

1KM TO GO

Pogačar attacks again just after the flamme rouge, and this time he's edging clear..and has a gap!

POGACAR WINS

The yellow jersey solos the final kilometre to take a famous victory! And breaks the record for the fastest ever ascent of Alpe d'Huez.

Martinez beats Carapaz in the sprint for second a few seconds later.

Evenepoel arrives home 2:29 after Pogačar, followed closely by Del Toro at 2:41, who also managed to drop Seixas and Skjelmose. But that pair spend up towards the finish and limited their losses to just a few seconds.

You sense that was the one Tadej Pogačar really wanted. He now has five stages at this Tour de France, and 26th in his career, but this one was particularly special - to win on the Tour’s most famous climb, in the yellow jersey, and in dramatic fashion as he picked the breakaway riders off one by one, will be remembered as one the highlights of his extraordinary career.

Martinez and Carapaz might not have quite been able to stop the charging express train that was Tadej Pogačar on Alpe d'Huez, despite coming very close to doing so, but it’s still a very good day for both of them.

Carapaz now leads the King of the Mountains classification outright, by one point from Pogačar, and so will wear the polka-dot jersey tomorrow with just two stages left; and Martinez rises from seventh to fifth on GC, and is now well ahead of Ayuso, who was one of the day’s big losers after being dropped early on the climb.

He might not have been seen much by the TV cameras as the battle between Pogačar and the breakaway riders took centre stage, but it was another exceptional ride from Remco Evenepoel. Once again he was the best of the rest among the GC contenders, and is now comfortably in second place, 2:31 ahead of Del Toro in third.

The race for the podium and the white jersey goes on. Del Toro attacked, and had a gap, but ultimately only managed to put four seconds into Seixas. With only 24 seconds separating them, this one is going to go down to the wire, and there's plenty of scope for change on tomorrow's huge day in the mountains.

Another piece of history made by Pogačar - he ascended Alpe d'Huez faster than anyone in history, breaking Marco Pantani’s famous record from 1999.

Tadej Pogačar beats nearly 30-year-old Alpe d'Huez climbing record set by Marco Pantani

Thanks for joining us today, for a stage that brought the kind of history, drama and exceptional performances that are so synonymous with the great Alpe d'Huez.

And we get to do it all tomorrow. The riders will be riding up Alpe d'Huez once more, albeit by an ‘easier’ side, and this time is preceded by other legendary hors Alpine passes, the Galibier and Col de la Croix-de-fer. It’s the queen stage, and as the final stage before Paris, the decisive moment that will put to rest most of the many contests that remain open at this Tour. Be sure to follow along with us!