Tour de France: Bernal takes yellow on shortened stage 19

Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) was the big winner during a shortened stage 19 of the Tour de France. Although the jury ruled there would be no official stage winner, Bernal took the yellow jersey after the race was cancelled on the descent of the Col d’Iseran. Hail and ice in Tignes, as well as a landslide blocking the road between Val d'Isère and Tignes, made the final kilometres of the stage impossible to pass by bike.

The Colombian had attacked midway up the Iseran, launching after teammate Geraint Thomas put yellow jersey Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) into major trouble on the 2770-metre mountain.

Bernal caught and passed the remains of the break in the final kilometres of the climb, gaining a minute on Thomas, Steven Krujswijk (Jumbo-Visma) and Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), and two minutes on Alaphilippe.

Amid a shroud of confusion, general classification times were taken at the summit of the Iseran, meaning Bernal takes over the race lead, with Alaphilippe set to lose over two minutes to the 22-year-old.

The chaos marked the end of a frantic stage of racing, officially 126.5km long but cut to 88.5km due to the weather. Almost forgotten amidst the stage cancellation chaos was Groupama-FDJ leader Thibaut Pinot's abandon. The Frenchman, who lay fifth overall at the start of the day, left the race after suffering through the opening 40km with what turned out to be a torn thigh muscle.

How it unfolded

The Tour de France's high Alpine adventure continued with the 126.5km stage 19, with the 'roof of the Tour', the Col d'Iseran and Montée de Tignes (2089 metres) on the menu for the penultimate mountain stage of the race.

The two big climbs of the day were to come after the third-category Côte de Saint-André after 25km, the second-category Montée d'Aussois after 38km and the third-category Col de la Madeleine after 63.5km. The big tests of the day came with the HC-rated Iseran (12.9km at 7.5 per cent) and first-category Tignes (7.4km at 7 per cent), which would – of course – end up not being raced.

A number of big names joined in the attacking at the start of the stage, with Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) and Pello Bilbao (Astana) among the early attackers.

The hectic start to the stage saw more riders make it across, with Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First) and world champion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) two men from the top ten to get away. Other notable names included king of the mountains challenger Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Merida), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic).

Meanwhile, Team Ineos, Jumbo-Visma and Movistar placed helpers in the break with Dylan Van Baarle, Laurens De Plus and Andrey Amador going up the road. On such a short and pivotal stage, the break would never take more than two minutes on the peloton.

The first major drama of the day unfolded 30km into the stage when Groupama-FDJ leader Thibaut Pinot dropped back to the medical car for attention to his left leg. The Frenchman was bandaged up but struggled to put power through the pedals and lost contact with the peloton.

It soon became clear that the man in fifth overall had a serious injury, with teammates passing by offering him pats on the back. On the Montée d'Aussois, he hugged teammate Matthieu Ladagnous before rolling to a halt and climbing into the team car, his Tour over.

Up the road, Caruso picked up seven points over Aussois and Madeleine to edge closer to mountain classification leader Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), who had tried but failed to make the break.

On the Iseran, Van Baarle dropped back to help Wout Poels push the pace for Ineos at the front of the rapidly-thinning GC group. As stage 18 winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and race leader Julian Alaphilippe's key helper Enric Mas dropped 7km from the top, the group lay just 30 seconds behind the break.

The action kicked off as Poels pulled off 6km from the top, triggering an attack by Thomas, which in turn forced the other GC contenders chase. Ineos teammate Bernal sat on the struggling Alaphilippe before launching himself a kilometre later.

The young Colombian quickly joined up with Nibali, Urán, Yates and Barguil at the head of the race, while Thomas had Jumbo-Visma duo De Plus and Kruijswijk, plus Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe). Alaphilippe, meanwhile, had Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) for company.

One by one, Bernal's companions dropped away, with Yates the last man on his wheel as he rode into the virtual lead. At the top, he took the 8-second bonus alone, with the Thomas group a minute down and Alaphilippe two minutes in arrears.

As Bernal started the descent, helicopter images and Twitter reports from team cars showed heavy hailstorms and ice covering the road in Tignes before the final climb. Reports also showed a landslide blocking the road at one point, after a storm on the Iseran washed mud and rocks onto the road.

Race officials made the decision to halt the stage shortly afterwards, with Tour director Christian Prudhomme leaning out of the lead car to explain what was happening to Bernal and Yates. Confusion reigned further back, with Urán and Alaphilippe among the more animated riders as news filtered through.

But the decision was made, the roads impassable as the second-shortest stage of the race was shortened even further. At the end of it all, for the first time in almost two weeks, Alaphilippe was out of yellow.

Full Results

Stage results nullified, times for GC taken atop Col de l'Iseran:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Egan Bernal (Col) Team IneosRow 0 - Cell 2
2Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:13
3Warren Barguil (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:00:40
4Laurens De Plus (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma0:01:03
5Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team IneosRow 5 - Cell 2
7Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 6 - Cell 2
8Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education FirstRow 8 - Cell 2
10Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo0:01:20
12Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 11 - Cell 2
13Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team0:01:49
14Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Wout Poels (Ned) Team IneosRow 14 - Cell 2
16Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:02:10
17Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert0:02:29
18Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team0:02:45
19Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:03:30
22Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo0:04:09
23Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 22 - Cell 2
24Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:04:34
26Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:05:12
27Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ0:06:15
28Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:08:15
29Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 28 - Cell 2
30Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-SegafredoRow 29 - Cell 2
31Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team Ineos0:09:36
32Michael Schär (Swi) CCC TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 32 - Cell 2
34Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team EmiratesRow 33 - Cell 2
35Michael Woods (Can) EF Education FirstRow 34 - Cell 2
36Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 35 - Cell 2
37George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 36 - Cell 2
38Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 37 - Cell 2
39Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Dimension Data0:10:32
40Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-SegafredoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Ben King (USA) Dimension Data0:11:02
42Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-MeridaRow 42 - Cell 2
44Tanel Kangert (Est) EF Education FirstRow 43 - Cell 2
45Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Natnael Berhane (Eri) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 45 - Cell 2
47Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 46 - Cell 2
48Joseph Rosskopf (USA) CCC Team0:11:08
49Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team0:11:10
50Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 49 - Cell 2
51Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 50 - Cell 2
52Maxime Bouet (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:12:25
53Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:13:28
54Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:13:38
56Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:13:56
57Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team Sunweb0:14:29
58Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:15:05
59Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team0:17:00
60Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-ScottRow 60 - Cell 2
62Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Mitchelton-ScottRow 61 - Cell 2
63Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team IneosRow 63 - Cell 2
65Luke Durbridge (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 64 - Cell 2
66Michael Matthews (Aus) Team SunwebRow 65 - Cell 2
67Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 67 - Cell 2
69Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-ScottRow 68 - Cell 2
70Daniel Oss (Ita) Bora-HansgroheRow 69 - Cell 2
71Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education FirstRow 71 - Cell 2
73Simon Geschke (Ger) CCC TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team EmiratesRow 74 - Cell 2
76Amael Moinard (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 75 - Cell 2
77Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 76 - Cell 2
78Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) CCC TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:17:14
80Stefan Küng (Swi) Groupama-FDJ0:18:30
81Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Total Direct EnergieRow 80 - Cell 2
82Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:18:34
83Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:19:31
84Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:20:34
85Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin0:20:36
86Serge Pauwels (Bel) CCC Team0:20:45
87Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:21:54
88Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:22:03
89Mads Schmidt Würtz (Den) Katusha-Alpecin0:25:23
90Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-GobertRow 89 - Cell 2
91Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-GobertRow 90 - Cell 2
92Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 91 - Cell 2
93Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 92 - Cell 2
94Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 93 - Cell 2
95Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 94 - Cell 2
96Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 95 - Cell 2
97Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 96 - Cell 2
98Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 97 - Cell 2
99Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 98 - Cell 2
100Koen de Kort (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 99 - Cell 2
101Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-GobertRow 100 - Cell 2
102Romain Sicard (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 101 - Cell 2
103Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 102 - Cell 2
104Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 104 - Cell 2
106Michael Hepburn (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 105 - Cell 2
107Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team IneosRow 106 - Cell 2
108Paul Ourselin (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 107 - Cell 2
109Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team IneosRow 108 - Cell 2
110Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
111Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 110 - Cell 2
112Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 111 - Cell 2
113Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 112 - Cell 2
114Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 114 - Cell 2
116William Bonnet (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 115 - Cell 2
117Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 116 - Cell 2
118Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team SunwebRow 117 - Cell 2
119Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 118 - Cell 2
120Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-AlpecinRow 119 - Cell 2
121Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto SoudalRow 120 - Cell 2
122Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 121 - Cell 2
123Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
124Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Dimension DataRow 123 - Cell 2
125Florian Vachon (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 124 - Cell 2
126André Greipel (Ger) Arkéa SamsicRow 125 - Cell 2
127Anthony Turgis (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 126 - Cell 2
128Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 127 - Cell 2
129Rein Taaramäe (Est) Total Direct EnergieRow 128 - Cell 2
130Chad Haga (USA) Team SunwebRow 129 - Cell 2
131Tom Scully (NZl) EF Education FirstRow 130 - Cell 2
132José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-AlpecinRow 131 - Cell 2
133Fabien Grellier (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 132 - Cell 2
134Anthony Roux (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 133 - Cell 2
135Stephen Cummings (GBr) Dimension DataRow 134 - Cell 2
136Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 135 - Cell 2
137Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 136 - Cell 2
138Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education FirstRow 137 - Cell 2
139Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 138 - Cell 2
140Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) EF Education FirstRow 139 - Cell 2
141Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 140 - Cell 2
142Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension DataRow 141 - Cell 2
143Sergio Henao (Col) UAE Team EmiratesRow 142 - Cell 2
144Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 143 - Cell 2
145Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 144 - Cell 2
146Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Nor) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 145 - Cell 2
147Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:25:51
148Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:26:12
149Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team SunwebRow 148 - Cell 2
150Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension DataRow 149 - Cell 2
151Lars Bak (Den) Dimension DataRow 150 - Cell 2
152Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott0:26:24
153Roger Kluge (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 152 - Cell 2
154Alex Dowsett (GBr) Katusha-Alpecin0:30:54
155Jens Debusschere (Bel) Katusha-Alpecin0:34:15
DNFThibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 155 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Sprint 1 - Bessans km. 68.5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3