Good morning and welcome to our live coverage from stage 17 of the Tour de France. Today is arguably the hardest day of the Tour de France with three huge climbs crammed inside the final 70km of action, and a summit finish on the Col du Portet. This is a stage that could decide the race, and the podium places, so stay tuned for our live text coverage. The stage officially starts in about 80 minutes.
Here's how things look in the overall standings heading into today's stage:
General classification
1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 66:23:06
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo 0:05:18
3 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 0:05:32
4 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 0:05:33
5 Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team 0:05:58
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:06:16
7 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech 0:07:01
8 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 0:07:11
9 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 0:08:02
10 Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 0:10:59
Pogacar has the massive lead over Uran in second place but the rest of the top ten have relatively small gaps between them with several riders in touch with the podium places. Chris Froome thinks that the race is probably done and dusted if Pogacar can stay on his bike, and he's probably right but you never know... the UAE leader could have a bad day. It wouldn't be a terrible scenario, to have an actual competition.
The five riders from DSM are on the podium for the sign on. They've had a shocker in terms of return on effort, and when compared to their three stage wins last year. They've been in several breaks, but it just hasn't happened for them in the race. So far.
Alpecin Fenix wave to the crowd, and they're next. Philipsen waves to the crowd but it's all about survival for him and his teammates today with two more sprints between here and Paris.
Quintana won the last time the race had this finish back in 2018. He's not on that level this year, and he's an outsider for the KOM prize but you can never rule him out but when 80kg riders are dropping you in the mountains then you know you might struggle. Here he is in happier times.
ISN are up next to sign on. Now they've got two contenders for today, Woods, and Dan Martin. Both pure climbers are still hunting a win in the race and Woods is also in contention for the KOM title this year. That jersey is between Woods, Poels (the current leader), Quintana and Wout van Aert. It should be an interesting battle for the break of the day.
Grey skies and overcast this morning, if you were wondering.
With just under 50 minutes until the start, there's plenty of time to read our full stage preview for today.
Trek are signing on now. Mollema - the most underrated rider in the bunch and Trek's best signing since Cancellara retired (IMO) is present and accounted for. He's been better for them than Contador, Nibali and Porte combined. They'll be active in the break again today and expect Julien Bernard - another underrated rider - to be on the move.
Gaudu is pottering around at the start. He could break into the top ten today but he really wants a stage win. It's going to tough though, as he was in the break yesterday and couldn't drop Sonny Colbrelli on the climbs. I can't see him matching better climbers if he goes in the break again today but who knows, maybe he's improving with each passing day.
Cofidis have all eight riders still in the race but other than Martin they've really not done much in this year's Tour. Can they end their stage win drought today? It would be an incredible result if they could but so much is stacked against them. I can see this being a day for the break though as it's such a long way from the start to the foot of the first climb.
Some good news for Cofidis this morning, Anthony Pérez has signed a contract extension. They're one of the longest serving teams in the sport, having started in 1997 - same time as FDJ. Their first roster included Rominger (in his final year, and crashed out of the Tour), D Millar, Bobby Julich, Frankie Andreu, Lance Armstrong - until they treated him awfully, 1998 KOM winner Rinero, and Saugrain, who won a stage in the 1996 edition of the race.
A rider on that roster once told me a great story about how their bikes were so bad at the time and that the riders used to chuck them off hotel roofs, and stamp on them, just to get new frames. I wrote that once, and someone more senior had me pull the copy. Anyways.
30 minutes until the start of stage 17 of the Tour de France.
Yeah Rominger crashed out with a collarbone break on the road to Plumelec, pretty early on in the race. He came back later in the season and had a decent Vuelta. He wasn't on the level to win but he was pretty instrumental in helping compatriot Alex Zulle claiming his second win in the race. Rominger, who worked with Ferrari moved into rider management and I tried to get him on the CN podcast a few years ago when I re-told the 1996 race but he declined. Shame, he would have had a lot to say.
EF are on the podium and then Bahrain Victorious follow them up there. 22 minutes until the stage start.
Jonas Vingegaard and his teammates are up next. Big day for the young Dane, who has so far been the only rider in the entire race to drop Pogacar. He's looked incredible so far and he could be the key to unlocking the race today with our summit finish. You'd think that if he wants to cause some real carnage he has to go early but he won't. They never do. Let's just hope we'll see some fireworks on that final climb to the finish.
Here comes the green jersey and his crew. Great news that they have a new sponsor for next year, mainly because I can just about spell the brand's name, Vinyl. Cavendish just has to survive the time cut today, and that's his only real focus. It'll be tough but he's climbing well enough in this year's race.
It's raining just as Pogacar arrives to sign on.
Yellow and green have found some shelter from the showers and are having a little natter. It doesn't last, as Pogacar wheels away, rides onto the stage and lifts both arms as he waves to the crowd. 'Hello Muret'. The rest of his team finally join him - they can't even keep up at this point - but in all seriousness they've a massive job on their hands today and a rider like Formolo will have to ride out of his skin on those three ascents. Will Ineos do the work for them, like they did a few days ago? We. Shall. See.
Bora are up next. They've won two stages since Sagan went home and they also have Kelderman up there in GC. Big day for the Dutchman who really has looked impressive in the race, and especially so in the mountains. He doesn't have an acceleration but again IMO he's got the best riding style out of all the riders in the top ten. Just watch him, he's not quite Mozart on pedals (Berzin) but he's not far off.
It's not raining that hard, Cavendish isn't wearing a rain jacket as we get closer and closer to the start of today's stage.
Easily the biggest and most impressive story in the last 24 hours...
Fire up the CN blimp, we are rolling on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
And it's Cavendish who wheels away first. The neutralized zone is about 10km long but we'll get through that soon enough before the Tour's grand fromage appears from his sunroof and gives us the signal that the stage has started.
The world champ is at the back and taking it easy as he talks to the TV cameras. I would have thought he'd try and be in a move today. We'll see, there's still a long way to go in the neutralized zone.
It's Bastille Day. Alaphilippe will surely be in the thick of the action when the attacks start.
Right now though the world champion is still at the back and chatting with Uran, who sits second in the GC.
Quintana has dropped back to the team car to hand over his rain jacket, which is a pretty decent indication that he'll be on the move today as he tries to snaffle up some KOM points.
Pierre Rolland was spotted at the start this morning and for me he's a great outsider for the stage win today. He'd have to be on his best day in almost a decade but it's Bastille Day, he's a bit of a French icon, and who doesn't like an underdog?
Jonas Vingegaard gobbles down a gel just before Prudhomme appears from the sunroof of his Skoda and Rolland is right at the front by the way. Just saying.
Prudhomme is leaving it late, we've just 200m to go before the start. There's a fair bit of wind around this morning too, it's really not pleasant out there.
Rolland and a teammate near the front... the stars are starting to align.
Here's the big guy. He's standing up, he's on the radio, flag in hand. Not sure why I'm making such a big deal of this but we are off and racing on stage 17 of the Tour de France. And Rolland attacks.
Ineos marking moves nice and early, Trek too before Groupama ping a rider off the front.
Valentin Madouas, who looks a bit like Gaudu on the bike. He's caught though and we're all back together at the front of the race.
Be still my beating heart - Rolland has attacked again and he's alone, leading the Tour de France.
Rolland has 20 seconds, and there's a short lived counter attack but that's been brought back. Trek try again though.
Cross-headwind right now which won't do Rolland any favours but he's ploughing and still has a twenty second lead with 173km to go.
30 seconds for Rolland but he'll want some help, that's for sure.
It looks like AG2R are chasing but Rolland's teammates are marking the moves nicely. We do have a small chase group at 22 seconds behind Rolland. 172km to go.
The chase group is just Lorenzo Rota and he's about to be caught. Ineos are trying again though.
They're just letting Lorenzo Rota hang out there as we see Cavendish on the front of the bunch. Is he going to mark Matthews and Colbrelli with the intermediate sprint coming up before the climbing starts?
If you want to read about Rolland's greatest ever day on a bike, and one of the most exciting days of the Tour we've ever seen, then check this race report out.
Rolland has 25 seconds but there's more action from the bunch as Arkea, Bahrain and Movistar try and get things going.
Three more riders pop off the front with Ag2R and Alpecin among those involved. They're looking back though, which is never a good sign.
165km to go
Just before he's caught Rolland kicks again. They're closing though, and he's caught with 163km to go. Thanks a lot, cycling.
EF and Intermarche are the next teams to try their luck as Wout van Aert takes off his jacket, having dropped back to the team car.
There's a bit of a holding pattern at the front but three or four riders do have a small gap with 160km to go.
Pöstlberger is one of the four riders off the front but the bunch haven't sat up yet, so this move is far from established. Cavendish is still there at the front and watching moves. He's looking right, he's looking left as we see Alaphilippe make an appearance at the front. Bonjour Mr world champion.
Movistar have three riders on the front of the peloton but it looks like they're just helping to shut things down. The four leaders have 54 seconds with 155km to go but there are two chasers behind them, and then the bunch.
Lukas Pöstlberger, Anthony Perez, Danny van Poppel and Dorian Godon are the leaders, and Anthony Turgis and Maxime Chevalier are chasing. The bunch are at 1'18 with 155km to go.
Cavendish and four of his QuickStep chums are on the front now, so it looks like game over if you wanted to be in the break but haven't made a move yet. Race radio crackles through and says there are three groups ahead of the bunch though. Let's get a bit lower in the CN blimp and check this out.
It's....Rebekah Vardy.
A few more drops of rain start to fall on the race and the pace has dramatically dropped in the bunch as the gap goes out to almost four minutes.
Julien Bernard is up against it at the moment as he has 1'36 to make up on the break and I'm not sure they'll want him there because he's probably the best climber out of all the riders on the attack so far today. Him or Anthony Perez.
UAE have put one rider on the front with 145km to go and the gap at 4'01 to the six leaders.
145km to go
A lot of AG2R riders are near the front and they are clearly expecting things to kick off in the cross-winds coming up later on. That's the only reason most of the team are just two wheels back from the front at the moment. It has to be.
Meanwhile Julien Bernard continues to hunt down the break and has closed the gap to 1'09. This is still a massive ask as they aren't going to give him an easy ride. Back in the bunch and Wilco Kelderman is moving up.
Steven Kruijswijk has quit the Tour de France. He was off the back early today and has climbed off. That leaves Jumbo Visma with just four riders in the race.
131km to go
Kim Andersen pulls up alongside Julien Bernard and I think he's told him to knock it off.
The gap to Julien Bernard has gone out two minutes, so it's effectively game over for his chances of getting into the break.
Julien Bernard is rolling along at 9kph right now as he waits for the bunch. Hey at least he gave it a go, it's just that his timing was a bit off.
These six leaders, they need well over ten minutes before the three climbs if they want to think about the stage win today but even then, the winner is likely to come from the GC riders in the race.
The first climb of the day is the Peyresourde, which was used in 1999 when Escartin took a famous win for Kelme. Rising at an average of 7% for a 13.1km, it’s the easiest of the three climbs crammed into the final third of the stage.
That could have been a problem... a bidon just bounces out of a cage at the front of the bunch but it skittles towards the curb without causing any issues. 123km to go and the gap to the six leaders out front is 7'28.
120km to go
So far, this has been another easy ride for Pogacar but Ineos have been quiet since the opening few moves and surely they'll have a plan for the second half of the race.
Pogacar attacked on the Peyresourde last year, didn't he? We looked at his power from that attack and wrote about it here.
Vegard Stake Laengen remains on the front of the peloton, where he has been for just over an hour now. He's holding the gap at 8'25 with 114km to go.
The intermediate sprint comes up later on at Bagnères-de-Luchon. We had a stage start there back in 2010 and 2018. Froome won there in 2016. Michael Rogers also won a stage there too in 2014. I think Voeckler won there too, maybe?
ISN are still contributing with the chase as they look to help Woods in that KOM race. He's eight points down on Wout Poels but there are 60 points on offer in that competition.
That help from ISN has seen the gap to the break drop to 7'55 with 107km to go.
100km to go
The fast descent away from the Peyresourde drops into Loudenvielle, where the riders will find themselves on the flat very briefly as they circle the lake to reach the foot of the Col d’Azet. Although not much more than half the length of the Peyresourde, its average of 8.3% makes it more challenging, especially on the steeper sections on its lower slopes. Once again, the descent is fast, Saint-Lary-Soulan arriving very quickly.
The intermediate sprint comes with 65km to go.
With 88km to race, the six attackers are still working together to push out their lead.
The intermediate sprint is deep into the stage today (after 113Km) but comes before all three major mountains.
80km to go
10km to go to the intermediate sprint in Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Despite the chase from the peloton, the break is still slowly gaining time.
Today's summit finish on the mighty Col du Portet should finally provide a degree of separation in the tight battle for the podium, though it remains to be seen if anyone can make even the slightest dent in Pogačar’s commanding 5:18 overall lead.
The work from Arkea and ISN hasn't done anything to bring the gap down, in fact it's stretched out to 8'21 with 67km to go, and also as soon as we're through the intermediate sprint the road starts to rise.
Lukas Pöstlberger is leading us towards the sprint point, we're about 1km from there right now.
van Poppel takes 20 points there ahead of Godon and we're closing in on the Peyresourde. Before that Cavendish, Matthews and Colbrelli will contest the remaining intermediate points.
The break reach the foot of the Peyresourde and start the 13.2km ascent. With a 8'30 lead they should easily crest the top of the climb before the peloton.
Cavendish has been brought up to third wheel before the sprint, with Philipsen also present.
And in the end Matthews beats Cavendish, and pulls back a single point in the race for the green jersey. Colbrelli was just behind that pair as up ahead the six leaders hold a 8'32 gap on the bunch.
The leaders are about 2km into the climb and they continue to work well together but the sprinters here will start to struggle soon enough.
Arkea and ISN are still driving the bunch but why? Because the gap isn't coming down and they're about lose half their numbers now anyway as they start the climb.
Quintana has been brought towards the front of the bunch and it might be that Arkea are setting up the Colombian for a long range attack.
At the back and Bol has been dropped, along with a number of other riders. Arkea have just lifted the pace and it's forced Poels to move up. Here we go.
Rolland has just been dropped from the back of the bunch too as Quintana goes with a teammate and Poels follows. 57km to go.
It's Elie Gesbert who has taken Quintana and Poels with him as behind them UAE set the pace for the peloton.
Cavendish dropped and Kwiatkowski, which is a major surprise with 56km to go.
Latour has made it to the Quintana group and they have about 30 seconds on the yellow jersey.
Almost 40 seconds now as Elie Gesbert continues to lead Quintana, Poels and Latour. They are still 6 minutes down on the break, so they won't catch them on this climb, that's for sure.
Quintana needs to make a move now though if he has the power in his legs because Elie Gesbert isn't really doing enough, and Pogacar and company can see the move up the road.
The six leaders have a lead of 5'39 with 59km to go on the stage, and 4.3km to go on the climb.
Further down the climb and Cavendish is two minutes down on the peloton and 8 minutes down on the stage leaders. He should be fine in terms of the time cut.
Powless has been dropped by the bunch.
Danny van Poppel is just about hanging on with the rest of the break, which has lost about three minutes since the climb started. Quintana meanwhile only has about 20 seconds on the bunch.
UAE are just tapping away and so far, so good for the yellow jersey and his teammates. The break are 2.3km from the summit of the ascent and now Latour has attacked. Nothing from Quintana or Poels.
Hirschi now setting the pace for Pogacar and they're about to catch Quintana and Poels. Catch made and 51km to go.
Uran though has lost a couple more teammates.
Pogacar has five riders left but two of them look like they're on their knees at this point on the climb. 1.6km to go for the break as Latour pulls out 30 seconds on the yellow jersey group.
Jonas Vingegaard still has Van Aert and Kuss by his side.
Geoghegan Hart has just been dropped, which is a big surprise because Carapaz only has a couple of teammates with him now. Pogacar has more support, which is scenario no one expected on the climbs.
It's not all over for last year's Giro winner, he's slowly coming back as Turgis takes the maximum mountain points on offer.
The break head over the climb with all six riders in touch, while Latour is at 3'30 and the bunch are at 4'30.
Ion Izagirre Insausti has just been kicked out the back of the bunch as UAE continue to set a relentless pace.
Latour crests the climb and is about to start the descent before a short section in the valley and then the first cat climb of the Col de Val Louron-Azet.
There are about 45 riders in the yellow jersey group as they hit the peak of the Col de Peyresourde.
The break are now in that valley before we hit the next climb of the Col de Val Louron-Azet. It's 7.4km in length with an average gradient of over 8 per cent, and it's the perfect launchpad for an attack. However, given the pace UAE set on that last climb, it's hard to see anyone wanting to break away, or even having the legs to do so. 38km to go and right now, this is looking like a day for Pogacar. It almost feels inevitable.
35km to go
The yellow jersey are 4'10 down on the break with Cavendish at just over 10 minutes.
Latour is about to be guzzled up by the UAE pipeline.
The bunch hit the climb and Pogacar still has four teammates on the front with 34km to go.
It's still Hirschi doing all the damage as more and more riders are spat out the back.
Maybe 30 riders in the yellow jersey group as Perez attacks with 34.3km to go. Turgis has cracked.
Godon is riding his own race but Perez is alone with 5.4km on this climb. He only has 3'56 on the peloton though, which isn't going to be enough given the terrain we still have left in the race.
Uran is quite far back in the group, it must be said. Pogacar though just looks so comfortable.
Latour has kicked again from the bunch, which is futile, but great to see.
Cort is about to be dropped from the main group, so Uran is down to two or three teammates.
Latour has been given about 5 seconds. Up ahead though and Perez is doing a good job at holding his lead at just under four minutes.
Perez has found a bit more time, actually, and the gap has moved to 4'12 as Hirschi pulls over with 32km to go. Dan Martin has just been dropped.
Fuglsang dropped and another Ineos is about to be distanced to. That's Geoghegan Hart.
Latour has been caught for a second time as Henao is dropped.
Perez has 3km to go on this penultimate climb and a lead of 3'53 on Pogacar. 31km to go on the stage.
The UAE train are just picking up riders from the break as they close in on the summit. Up ahead and Perez has 3'46 with just over 1km to climb before the final descent.
Two Movistar riders are dangling towards the back of the yellow jersey group as Formolo sets the pace. It's Perez versus UAE right now. He has 3'48 with 29km to go.
29km to go
Porte just came to the front for a moment but then dropped back. Not sure what was going on there, maybe he was going for bottle? On the descent and Perez has to take risks, and he's doing so.
Just two riders left for Pogacar as Formolo cracks. 25km to go. He might come back on the descent.
Poels attacks. Quintana tried to follow but sat up almost right away. He takes some points but Poels extends his lead in the competition.
Turgis and Godin still haven't been caught by the bunch and this is a sketchy descent, and there's some patches of gravel on the road.
A rider in the bunch, Kuss, comes off the road but just about keeps it together. That was tense, and Pogacar ran wide too through that same corner.
Godon has done well. He's caught Perez on the descent with 22km to go.
21km to go and Godon and Perez have 3'37 over the peloton.
Turgis is about a minute off the two leaders and he might struggle to come back as Bahrain join the chase with UAE on the front of the bunch.
We're about 1km from the foot of the Col du Portet. It's 16km long and has an average gradient of over 8 percent. This is where Pogacar can extend his lead, and this is where his rivals can also crack him. It should be a great showdown.
16km to go
If Perez, who announced he has re-signed with Cofidis this morning, wins their first Tour stage in 13 years, on Bastille Day, all of France will erupt.
Right now it's Godon setting the pace with 15.2km to go. The gap is still at 3'58 as we hit 13 per cent sections on the climb.
Chaves has a front flat, and that's terrible timing.
Godon looks good, better than he did on the last climb, as he sets the pace. Valverde has been dropped as Formolo does indeed return and start to set the pace.
The peloton are on the climb now and Pogacar has Van Aert on his wheel.
So the race leader has three teammates at the start of this final climb of the Col du Portet.
The gap is at 3'42, so it's starting to come down. 3'40 now.
And Godon has attacked. Perez responds right away.
Formolo cracks once more with 14km to go.
Alaphilippe is hanging on at the back now too.
Van Aert has cracked. He's gone and the world champ, and Quintana.
3'11 is the gap with Mcnulty setting the pace for Pogacar.
I think Thomas has been dropped too. 13.5km to go.
13.4km to go and Perez has attacked. And he has a gap and a lead of 3'07 on yellow.
I think Perez has too much to do but he's giving it everything as the gradient climbs once again.
Porte has been dropped. I think Thomas is still there.
Jonas Vingegaard has Kuss for company but the yellow jersey group is down to about 15-20 riders.
Ineos do still have numbers around Carapaz as Fraile is the next rider out the back. O'Connor and Kelderman look isolated.
McNulty is done so it's Majka now on the front with 12.2km to go.
So Pogacar is down to his last teammate already as Thomas is finally dropped.
Uran as Higuita but we're down to less than a dozen riders in the yellow jersey group. Mollema and Poels dropped. Martin for Cofidis to and Mas. Mas has been dropped. He's the first real top five contender to be distanced with 11.6km to go.
Mas being dropped is a massive surprise at this stage. Gaudus is there, so he could be moving into the top ten today.
Carapaz has one rider left with him as Poels and Martin join up with Mas and Lopez. Can't see Woods.
Up ahead and Perez just has 1'52 on the bunch with 11.2km to go. It's all on you Gaudu.
I think Woods is at the back of this yellow jersey group.
And it's Ineos who take over at the front of the bunch as Bilbao hangs on with Woods and Teuns at the back. Right now it's Jonathan Castroviejo who lifts the pace with 10.5km to go.
Lutsenko is in trouble here too. as Majka takes over. Lutsenko has been dropped with 10.2km to go.
Ah the Astana man is back, for now.
All of the top four on GC still have a teammate as the gap to Perez drops to 1'22.
Majka continues to set the pace for his leader and the yellow jersey as we dip into the final 10km of the stage. Perez has 1'07.
It's under a minute now for Perez as he really starts to tighten up. Godon has been caught.
Bilbao has just gone off the front with 9.2km to go. He's the first rider to attack from the yellow jersey group.
37 seconds for Perez as he hits a gradient of 14 per cent.
Bilbao only has about 3 seconds but he kicks again and just draws the gap out for a few more lengths.
His effort looks quite jerky on bike and now he's caught and Pogacar goes with 8.4km to go.
Jonas Vingegaard, Uran, Carapaz and O'Connor follow but no one else.
And Pogacar goes again with 8.km to go.
Can anyone close that gap? Yes. Jonas Vingegaard, Uran and Carapaz but everyone else has been dropped. Perez caught and dropped.
7.5km to go and Uran is being distanced.
Pogacar gets a turn from Vingegaard.
Carapaz is not able or willing to ride as Uran and O'Connor link up.
7.2km to go and Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are trading turns as Uran continues to lose group. Pogacar puts in another little dig as they take a corner. Carapaz is just holding on for dear life.
It looks like Uran is already 19 seconds down. He's with O'Connor.
Carapaz continues to just hold on as Higuita comes back to help Uran. That's massive.
The leaders though have 27 seconds and it looks like only Pogacar is setting the pace. 6.4km to go.
Vingegaard comes through again, but still nothing from Carapaz. Pogacar though just looks untouchable at this point.
Every time Pogacar comes through the pace just increases immediately. Uran is at 30 seconds at the moment. 5.9km to go.
Carapaz is just holding on now. Surely it's only a matter of time...
Vingegaard takes a much longer pull for the first time. Much, much longer with 5.4km to go.
But then Pogacar just hits the front with another sprint. It's a semi-sprint.
Down the climb and Gaudu is fourth on the road now.
Uran is in big trouble. He could lose 2-3 minutes easily here.
5km to go and Carapaz is still holding firm, though he's still not taken a turn.
Uran is fourth on GC now as Kelderman comes back to the Colombian.
Carapaz looks like he's about to crack but he's been like that for some time and he's still there. 4.5km to go.
Gaudu is at 37 seconds, Uran, O'Connor, Kelderman at 55 seconds.
4k to go now for our three leaders: Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Carapaz.
Vingegaard takes another long turn on the front as the gap to Uran drifts out to over a minute.
Then Pogacar takes over again. He just looks so fresh, even at this stage.
Carapaz looks to be in a world of pain, Vingegaard looks ok but maybe just a bit labored, while the yellow jersey looks like he could do this climb a second time. Gaudu now at 49 seconds.
3km to go
The race has settled down now because there's a stage win on offer at the line. Vingegaard is looking at Pogacar and that might open the window for Carapaz. Does he have anything left in the tank though?
2.1km to go and Pogacar goes again. He can't drop them though.
The yellow jersey keeps the pressure on though.
The two chasing groups have closed a bit as Pogacar goes again with 1.7km to go.
This looks like the most serious attack yet but it's matched once again by Vingegaard and Carapaz. 1.5km to go.
Gaudu has 15 seconds on the Uran group.
1.3km to go and Carapaz attacks.
Vingegaard has been dropped.
They head through a tunnel and it's down to just two riders with 1km to go.
Carapaz keep the hammer down and Pogacar follows.
Can Vingegaard come back? He has a lot of work to do.
600m to go and Carapaz just sets the pace. He won't get any help from Pogacar.
Carapaz gets out of the saddle again but Vingegaard is coming back slowly.
Carapaz looks back, sees Vingegaard and kicks again.
Vingegaard is closing the gap, he's coming back.
He's done it. 170m to go.
Carapaz leads and Pogacar goes.
Tadej Pogacar wins stage 17 of the Tour de France
Vingegaard was second, and Carapaz third a few seconds back.
Gaudu comes over the line and takes fourth on the stage but I think we have our Tour de France podium.
O'Connor fifth at 1'28. Then Kelderman, Bilbao.
Uran at 1'50. Not a good day for EF.
Mas has come back well given how early he was dropped. 2'28 or so. Then Lutsenko finishes at 2'54.
Some provisional results:
1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 05:03:31
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 00:00:03
3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:04
4 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 00:01:19
General classification after stage 17
1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 71:26:27
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 00:05:39
3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:05:43
1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 05:03:31
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 00:00:03
3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:04
4 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 00:01:19
5 Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team 00:01:26
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:01:40
7 Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 00:01:44
8 Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:49
9 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:49
10 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain Victorious 00:01:49
General classification after stage 17
1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 71:26:27
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 00:05:39
3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:05:43
4 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo 00:07:17
5 Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team 00:07:34
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:08:06
7 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 00:09:48
8 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech 00:10:04
9 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 00:11:51
10 Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 00:12:53
We still have 83 riders out on the course. And one of them is the green jersey.
Greipel has just come over the line. And the update is that 26 riders are still out there climbing.
Cavendish has four riders from his team out there with him. He should make it...
Thanks for joining us today. We will be back for more action in the mountains tomorrow with stage 18 of the Tour de France.
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