Tour de France 2022 LIVE: Result as Jonas Vingegaard breaks Tadej Pogacar to win stage 18 and cement yellow jersey

The 2022 Tour de France faces a final, crucial day in the mountains as Tadej Pogacar takes what is realistically one final swing at Jonas Vingegaard in an effort to knock the yellow jersey from his grasp.

Vingegaard has led the overall standings by more than two minutes since his sole stage win on stage 11 which saw Pogacar crack under immense pressure from the Dane’s Jumbo-Visma team. But Pogacar’s hard-earned win over Vingegaard at the finish of yesterday’s brutal stage 17 ride to Peyragudes landed a small psychological blog in his bid to become a three-time champion. With a flat sprint stage tomorrow and a closing time trial which offers only limited scope for earning back time before Sunday’s procession to Paris, Pogacar knows he must break Vingegaard’s resolve today.

Behind them Geraint Thomas is in pole position to pick up the remaining podium position, having picked his moments to follow the two standout riders and chosen wisely the right times to hold back and save his legs. Germany’s Simon Geschke remains in the polka dot jersey and is seeking to cement his title as King f the Mountains, while Wout van Aert only needs to make it to Paris to collect the points classification’s green jersey.

Follow all the latest action from stage 18 below.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

• Stage 17 report: Vingegaard retains yellow jersey despite Pogacar’s epic win

• Stage 18 preview: 143km route in Pyrenean mountains expected to be brutal

• News: Chris Froome abandons race after contracting Covid-19

• 90km to go: Australia’s Jack Bauer in crash with press motorbike

• 28km to go: Pogacar crashes but Vingegaard waits up in classy act

• 11km to go: Riders on the final climb as Pogacar has one last chance to break Vingegaard

• 4km to go: Vingegaard breaks Pogacar to increase lead in GC stand

• Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18!

Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!

16:51 , Michael Jones

Jonas Vingegaard’s stage win also means he has taken the lead in the King of the Mountains competition as well. Only two riders have won the Tour de France and the KOM competition the same year in this century:

Chris Froome (2015) and Tadej Pogacar (2020 and 2021).

Will Vingegaard become the third?

Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!

16:46 , Michael Jones

Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!

16:43 , Michael Jones

Jonas Vingegaard takes the victory with Tadej Pogacar following across the line. Wout van Aert had enough energy left in the tank to come home in third.

That’s a remarkable result for the green jersey holder.

Tour de France 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 in yellow jersey!

16:39 , Michael Jones

Jonas Vingegaard wins the last mountain stage of the 2022 Tour de France! Tadej Pogacar finishes second but he’s over a minute behind the Dane.

The reigning champion has been well beaten today, every attack he made was countered by Vingegaard who now has a firm grip on the yellow jersey.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:34 , Michael Jones

1.5km to go: Jonas Vingegaard has increased his lead over Tadej Pogacar to 45 seconds. He’s leading the Tour de France by three minutes now.

This has been a perfect ride from the Dane and his being cheered in over the final kilometres but the crowds on the side of the road.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:29 , Michael Jones

3km to go: Jonas Vingegaard is out in front on his own. Wout van Aert is out of gas and gets reeled in by Tadej Pogacar who is now 27 seconds behind.

Vingegaard is going to win stage 18 and all but secure the yellow jersey.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:27 , Michael Jones

4km to go: Pogacar dropped! Wout van Aert ups the pace again with Jonas Vingegaard sticking to his wheel. It’s too much for the Slovenian who has to watch them sail ahead.

Van Aert is winning the Tour de France for Vingegaard.

This pair are inside of four kilometres left in the stage so Vingegaard decides it’s time to kick on alone.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:24 , Michael Jones

5km to go: Wout van Aert waits up for team mates Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss to catch up before taking up the job as the pace setter.

Kuss drops away and leaves Van Aert and Vingegaard to it. Tadej Pogacar sticks with them. One of these three will win the stage.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:19 , Michael Jones

6km to go: Kuss, Vingegaard and Pogacar move ahead of Lutsenko and Verona to come within a 30 second deficit of the two leaders.

We could be in for a final battle between the two GC contenders. Pogacar surely has to attack on this climb.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:16 , Michael Jones

7km to go: The climb up Hautacam is starting to get steeper and more difficult. This is where Wout van Aert could win or lose this stage.

He may give up his chance to help Jonas Vingegaard stay ahead of Tadej Pogacar though.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:13 , Michael Jones

8km to go: Just as the gap between the leaders and the chasing duo begins to narrow, Wout van Aert makes a move on the flatter sections of the climb and distances himself away from Thibaut Pinot. Daniel Martinez sticks with him and these two push ahead.

The gap to Lutsenko and Verona is 42 seconds but the gap to the yellow jersey is only 1’04”.

I think Wout van Aert wants to win this stage.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:11 , Michael Jones

9km to go: David Gaudu and Nairo Quintana start to get worried about the GC riders ahead of them and kick on to close the gap. Louis Meintjes who is with them can’t follow and starts to drop back.

Alexey Lutsenko and Carlos Verona close the gap on the leading trio. They are only 30 seconds behind now.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:04 , Michael Jones

11km to go: One of the Jumbo Visma pace setters pulls over to the side of the road and Sepp Kuss takes over ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.

Up top Thibaut Pinot is at the head of the leading trio, Daniel Martinez and Wout van Aert trailing him. They have a lead of 1’53”.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

16:00 , Michael Jones

13km to go: Pogacar and Vingegaard have been joined by Geraint Thomas’ group which inlcudes Vingegaard’s Jumbo Visma team mates.

This final climb is 13.6km long with an average gradient of 8.7%.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:54 , Michael Jones

17km to go: The three leaders are approaching the final climb up to Hautacam. Jonas Vingegaard’s domestiques are gaining on him and Pogacar which will provide him with some help up the final ascent.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:51 , Michael Jones

20km to go: There’s a long discussion between Tadej Pogacar and the UAE car as the riders continue to head down the descent. It seems as though Pogacar is reluctant to attack on the downhill again and he’s being encouraged to do so.

Geraint Thomas’ group is now only 10 seconds behind them.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:46 , Michael Jones

25km to go: Wout van Aert leads Daniel Martinez and Thibaut Pinot through the gate signifying that there’s only 25km to go in the stage.

Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are 1’44” behind them.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:43 , Michael Jones

28km to go: Pogacar crashes! He loses it on a left turn and goes off the road before hitting the ground.

Vingegaard sweeps past but slows down and waits for Pogacar to catch up.

The pair shake hands and continue on the downhill together. Fantastic sportsmanship from Vingegaard.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:40 , Michael Jones

30km to go: There’s another long descent before the final climb and Tadej Pogacar goes again. Disaster almost strikes for Jonas Vingegaard as he reaches for the pedals too soon on a bend and nearly crashes.

He saves his ride and gets his head down to catch up with the Slovenian. That was very close.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:36 , Michael Jones

33km to go: Pogacar’s attacks have successfully distanced Jonas Vingegaard from Sepp Kuss but there is another Jumbo Visma team mate waiting ahead of this pair.

He’s leading the race and wearing the green jersey. Wout Van Aert peaks Col de Spandelles first and collects the maximum 10 points on offer.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:32 , Michael Jones

34.5km to go: That’s got to be disheartening for Thomas. Pogacar has another dart and opens up a gap of two or three wheel lengths on Vingegaard.

The yellow jersey wearer puts on the burners and closes the gap before both men sail past Thomas and then Louis Meintjes.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:30 , Michael Jones

35km to go: Oh hello. Vingegaard responds to another Pogacar attack and sticks with the Slovenian. After every move Jumbo Visma’s Sepp Kuss rejoins the two GC leaders.

Geraint Thomas catches up with them then launches an attack of his own. He’s still a fair way behind in the standings so Vingegaard and Pogacar let him go.

Thomas needs to create a big gap so he’s in for a tough ride if he decides to see it through.

2km of the climb left.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:25 , Michael Jones

37km to go: The leaders of the race are Wout van Aert, Daniel Martinez and Thibaut Pinot.

Louis Meintjes is chasing them but is two minutes 15 seconds behind.

30 seconds back from him is the yellow jersey group of GC contenders which has bunched up again afte Pogacar’s earlier attack.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:21 , Michael Jones

38km to go: There it is! Pogacar flies past McNulty and launches his attack with 5.6km of Col de Spandelles left. Only Jonas Vingegaard goes off with him and Pogacar looks back with a bemused smile.

They’re driving up the mountain and are now just a few seconds behind Louis Meintjes.

They’re going to catch the South African as well.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:18 , Michael Jones

39km to go: It does feel as though Tadej Pogacar is just biding his time to make his attack with Jonas Vingegaard seemingly poised to respond.

Geraint Thomas is still in the hunt, travelling with this group which is 2’48” behind the breakaway.

That gap is coming down too.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:11 , Michael Jones

41km to go: This is the last stage in the mountains so Tadej Pogacar will have to make an attack if he’s serious about making time back on Jonas Vingegaard.

His UAE team mate Brandon McNulty is leading Pogacar up this climb with Vingegaard trailing on his wheel.

8km left and up ahead Wout van Aert is back out in front. He couldn’t win this stage could he?

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:08 , Michael Jones

42km to go: This climb is 10.3km long with an average gradient of 8.3% which in parts reaches 13%. The leading group are hitting 18km/h at the start of the incline which is a rapid pace if they can keep it up.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:03 , Michael Jones

44km to go: The leading group are coming up to the start of the Col de Spandelles which is the only unprecedented climb of this 2022 Tour.

Col de Spandelles was used by the Route du Sud (the race now called Route d’Occitanie) in 2012.

Nairo Quintana was first up there but he has no recollection of the climb.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

15:02 , Michael Jones

48km to go: Every move that Tadej Pogacar has made over the last three or so days Jonas Vingegaard has matched immediately. The yellow jersey holder has one goal and that is to stick with Pogacar until the finish line.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:54 , Michael Jones

52km to go: Louis Meintjes continues to chip away at the leading pack and potentially poses a threat to Giulio Ciccone’s KOM ambitions.

If the South African can reach the peak of the next two climbs first he could move into the lead in that competition as well as continuing his ascendancy up the GC leaderboard.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:52 , Michael Jones

55km to go: Bauke Mollema leads the breakaway all the way to the top of a short incline to set the pace for this next long descent to the base of Col de Spandelles. Giulio Ciccone sticks with and looks to have eyes on taking the KOM points for the next climb too.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:47 , Michael Jones

58km to go: KOM full results at Col d’Aubisque

1. Giulio Ciccone, 20 pts

2. Thibaut Pinot , 15 pts

3. Wout van Aert, 12 pts

4. Valentin Madouas, 10 pts

5. Tiesj Benoot, 8 pts

6. Dani Martinez, 6 pts

7. Carlos Verona, 4 pts

8. Enric Mas, 2 pts

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:41 , Michael Jones

64km to go: Jumbo Visma lead the peloton over the top of the climb and are sticking with Jonas Vingegaard to protect him from any attacks on the descent from Tadej Pogacar.

Two more big climbs to go today.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:38 , Michael Jones

66.5km to go: Louis Meintjes left the peloton a while ago and has opened up a lead of a minute on the yellow jersey. In the virtual GC standings he’s now up to fourth place.

Up ahead the leaders reach the peak of Col d’Ausbisque, Giulio Ciccone takes the 20 points ahead of Thibaut Pinot and Wout van Aert.

Ciccone is now up to 61 points in the KOM competition, just two behind Simon Geschke.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:28 , Michael Jones

69km to go: The peloton is being controlled by Jumbo Visma and the yellow jersey holder, Jonas Vingegaard, with Tadej Pogacar just behind them. He’s only got UAE team mate Brandon McNulty with him to help out if he decides to make a move.

Up front Van Aert has been reeled back into the main group but still hovers near the front of the pack. These leaders have opened up a gap of 2’38” on the peloton now.

It’s also bad news for Simon Geschke who is plummeting away. The polka dot jersey wearer is 4’42” off the pace and two minutes behind the peloton.

2.5km of the first classified climb to go.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:23 , Michael Jones

71km to go: Wout van Aert, wearing the green jersey, pushes on ahead of the leading group and looks to attack the final section of this climb.

There’s 4.2km left. The Belgian is an incredibly unpredictable rider, there’s no telling what he’ll do day by day.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:15 , Michael Jones

73km to go: Simon Geschke is struggling to get moving on the climb and has fallen over a minute behind. The polka dot jersey seems to be slipping away from him.

With just under 7km of the climb still to go there are five riders leading the way. Van Aert, Mollema, Ciccone, Houle and Verona.

Ciccone is openly targeting the polka dot jersey.

Geraint Thomas speaks

14:12 , Lawrence Ostlere

Talking to ITV before the stage, Thomas said it was a case of simply doing his best to stay with the leaders: “It’s going to be another tough day, we’ll keep doing all the basics. I don’t want to just attack for TV, we’ll keep trying and see what happens. I’ll keep clinging on to Pogacar and maybe he has a a bad day, you never know.”

Asked if he can be proud of a podium finish should he achieve one, Thomas said: “I think so, especially with how last year ended, the Tour wasn’t good. It was a tough time, so it was good to turn it around to this point and prove a few people wrong. But still three more days – well, four.”

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:05 , Lawrence Ostlere

76km to go: So, we have three groups on the road as they climb.

The leading pack of around 20 riders led by the green jersey of Van Aert who is keen to offer an option for his teammate, the yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard, later in the day.

Then a chase pack featuring the polka dot jersey is about 20 seconds behind them – Tom Pidcock is among this small group of around 10 riders, with Thibaut Pinot and Bauke Mollema also among their number.

And another minute and a half down the road, Jumbo-Visma are taking it easy and hoping to preserve Vingegaard’s legs, which UAE Emirates and Tadej Pogacar are happy to play along with for now.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:04 , Michael Jones

77km to go: Col d’Ausbisque is a long old climb. 16.4km with an average gradient of 7.1% but there are quite a few sections which are more difficult than that.

KOM leader Simon Geschke is 20 seconds behind the leading group. He’ll want to try and close that gap over the next 10km of the climb if he has hopes of securing the polka dot jersey.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

14:00 , Lawrence Ostlere

Here are a few of the names in the leading group, who are being hunted by Simon Geschke and a secondary chase group.

Van Aert, Mohoric, Politt, Capiot, De Wulf, Kron, Haller, Ciccone, B Thomas, Benoit, Bonnamour, Schachmann, Van Baarle, Jungels, Uran.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:56 , Lawrence Ostlere

The first serious climb of today’s three ascents – the Col d’Aubisque – is under way. The 20-man breakaway remains around 20 seconds up the hill.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:53 , Lawrence Ostlere

80km to go: Wout van Aert takes the maximum points at the intermediate sprint. He doesn’t even need the points, but perhaps has the green jersey record in his mind...

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:49 , Lawrence Ostlere

85km to go: Bauer and Eekhoff both appear to be able to ride on, that’s good news.

Up ahead, a group of around 20 riders remain around 20 seconds in front of the peloton, but Cofidis are not letting them getting any further up the road, and are keeping Simon Geshcke’s polka dot jersey hopes very much alive.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:42 , Lawrence Ostlere

Here it is. Why the press motorbike didn’t slow down sooner, I do not know.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:40 , Lawrence Ostlere

Oh no, a horrible crash! Australia’s Jack Bauer was approaching a pinch-point on the road when the team car in front of him slowed down quite suddenly. He went to move around the car but there was a press motorbike arriving at speed which left him nowhere to go. He slammed into the back of the car and hit the ground hard, but luckily seemed to avoid significant injury, and understandably turned to rebuke the motorbike rider after dusting himself down.

There was a similar incident 20 yards up the road with Nils Eekhoff, too, at the exactly the same moment, who also seems to have escaped serious harm.

Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard speak

13:33 , Lawrence Ostlere

The man in the white jersey told ITV this morning of his strategy today: “You can just try to go as quick as you can and hope that you can make a gap. I was happy with my win [yesterday], I didn’t need to analyse too much, there was nothing to study. Today I need to go all in.”

And Vingegaard on UAE Emirates attacking him today: “They put in a good team effort yesterday. I don’t know [when they wil attack], I just have to be ready for everything and then we’ll see.”

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:26 , Lawrence Ostlere

102km to go: A new breakaway of around 16 riders has formed off the front of what is a fast start to stage 18 – Tadej Pogacar won’t mind that, given he really needs Jonas Vingegaard to crack on the final climb if he is to win back the yellow jersey.

Geschke’s Cofidis teammates are working hard to bring the break back in once more.

Chris Froome out of Tour de France with Covid

13:19 , Lawrence Ostlere

Full story of Froome’s withdrawal:

Chris Froome out of Tour de France after testing positive for Covid

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:18 , Lawrence Ostlere

106km to go: Cofidis have done a great job pulling the breakaway back for Geschke.

There are 20 points available at the top of the first climb of the day, which is hors catégorie, and 10 more at the top of the second climb of the day as it is category one.

A reminder of today’s profile:

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:13 , Lawrence Ostlere

112km to go: Here are the six riders out front – but barely, maybe 20 seconds or even less ahead of the peloton:

Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Andreas Leknessund (DSM), Stan De Wulf (AG2R-Citroen), Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco).

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:11 , Lawrence Ostlere

Well this is a problem for Cofidis and their man Simon Geschke, who is wearing the KoM’s polka dot jersey but whose lead in the King of the Mountains classification is not huge. He needs to get into the breakaway.

There are a lump of points available at the stage finish today and as it is very likely we will see Vingegaard and Pogacar collect the majority of them, so Geschke needs to get up the road early and get over the first climb or two quickly to combat that with points of his own.

1. Simon Geschke (Deu) Cofidis, 64pts

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, 52pts

3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 46 pts

4. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, 41pts

5. Louis Mentjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, 39pts

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:07 , Lawrence Ostlere

117km to go: Wout van Aert has been brought back into the peloton and six riders have now escaped up the road: Laporte, De Wulf, Leknessund, Vermeersch, Bissegger and Matthews.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

13:01 , Lawrence Ostlere

Before the stage, Wout van Aert told ITV: “Of course we are interested in getting in the breakaway. We don’t know when Pogacar will attack, so it will be interesting to have someone up the road.”

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

12:53 , Lawrence Ostlere

130km to go: An early surge by Wout van Aert and he is 15 seconds up the road from the rest, as various attacks are foiled by the peloton behind him. Jumbo-Visma clearly want an insurance policy in the breakaway to assist Jonas Vingegaard later in the race should he need it.

Full story: Chris Froome abandons the race

12:45 , Lawrence Ostlere

Froome, who achieved his best result since his devastating crash in 2019 when he finished third on stage 12 to Alpe d’Huez last week, was one of three riders not to start Thursday’s stage 18 of the Tour due to positive tests for the virus, with Imanol Erviti and Damiano Caruso also out.

“I’m really disappointed not to be able to roll into Paris and finish off this Tour de France,” Froome said in a video message. “It’s been an extremely special race for us as a team and for me personally as well as I’ve been finding my legs again.

“I want to thank everyone for all the support through this process. I’m going to head home now, switch off for a few days and refocus on being ready for the Vuelta a Espana later this season.”

Chris Froome is out of the Tour de France after testing positive for Covid-19 and has immediately set his sights on racing the Vuelta a Espana later this season.

Breaking: Chris Froome out of Tour de France with Covid-19

12:38 , Lawrence Ostlere

Froome says he will now switch his focus to the Vuelta: “I’m going to head home now, switch off for a few days and refocus on being ready for the Vuelta a Espana later this season.”

Breaking: Chris Froome out of Tour de France with Covid-19

12:36 , Lawrence Ostlere

Chris Froome will not take part in today’s stage and has abandoned the race.

“Unfortunately, @chrisfroome won’t take the start of stage 18 as a test taken shortly before the start has revealed that Chris has contracted Covid. The remaining IPT riders all tested negative and are ready to race,” his team Israel Premier-Tech tweeted this lunchtime.

Stage 18 is under way!

12:32 , Lawrence Ostlere

We are go: 143km from Lourdes to Hautacam, and by the end of the day Jonas Vingegaard could have one hand firmly on his first yellow jersey.

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

12:24 , Lawrence Ostlere

Stage 18, then, coming right up.

Stage 18 map and profile

12:18 , Lawrence Ostlere

Here’s what faces the riders today – 143km from Lourdes with two catégorie hors climbs either side of the category one Col de Spandelles, with a summit finish at Hautacam.

What do the Tour de France jerseys mean?

12:12 , Lawrence Ostlere

While the yellow jersey, won in 2020 and 2021 by Slovenian prodigy Tadej Pogacar, is the most famous and prestigious of them all, there are three other colours to look out for in the peloton taking on this year’s Tour de France route.

The green, polka dot, and white jerseys all have their own meanings, histories and significance for their respective holders.

The meaning behind each Tour de France coloured jersey

Pogacar convinced Vingegaard can be beaten

12:06 , Lawrence Ostlere

Defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar said the morale in the UAE Emirates camp was high despite the team being reduced to four riders due to injury and illness for the final days of the race.

Pogacar’s challenge suffered a blow earlier in the day when his team mate Rafal Majka pulled out of the race due to injury, leaving the Slovenian with only three team mates for the final days of the race.

The 23-year-old claimed a third win in this year’s Tour and grabbed a 10-second time bonus but he trails Jumbo Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard by two minutes and 18 seconds ahead of Thursday’s final mountain stage.

“The effect of today is that the mood is higher in the team. Even though we are now four guys, it’s changed the dynamic now. We’ll be really optimistic and motivated in tomorrow’s stage,” Pogacar told reporters, after winning the 17th stage.

“We can try really hard to try to take time back. Today we saw that we are strong.”

Majka sustained a thigh strain after mechanical trouble on stage 16 when his chain broke, which led to a high-grade partial thickness tear of his right quadriceps muscle.

Pogacar rued their bad luck following the injury to his key lieutenant in the mountains but said it was no surprise that his team were strong despite the setbacks.

“Even if everything had been normal we would still have been the strongest team everyday, but these things happen in cycling and we are motivating each other,” Pogacar said.

“Tomorrow we will give it our all.”

Stage 18 start time and TV info

11:59 , Lawrence Ostlere

The stage is scheduled to start at around 12:30pm BST with the expected finish at around 4:30pm BST.

How to watch on TV and online today

Tour de France coverage can be found this year on ITV4, Eurosport, Discovery+ and GCN+ (Global Cycling Network).

Live racing each day will be shown on ITV4 before highlights typically at 7pm each day. ITV’s website lists timings here.

Eurosport and GCN+ will show every minute of every stage. More on Eurosport’s coverage here and the GCN+ coverage here.

It is also being shown on Eurosport’s Discovery+ streaming service, with broadcast info here.

What it feels like to ride up a Tour de France mountain

11:56 , Lawrence Ostlere

Our very own Sean Russell took an Alpe d’Huez recently – here’s his account, a lovely read on the realities of riding one of the Tour’s iconic climbs:

What it feels like to ride up a Tour de France mountain

Stage-by-stage guide to the Tour de France

11:50 , Lawrence Ostlere

And here’s what’s still to come:

Tour de France 2022 stage-by-stage guide

Stage 18 preview: 143km route in Pyrenean mountains expected to be brutal

11:45 , Lawrence Ostlere

The 2022 Tour de France is set for a dramatic final mountain duel between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in Stage 18, with the Col d’Aubisque, Col de Spandelles and summit finish at Hautacam offering the possibility of a dramatic late twist in the Pyrenees.

Stage 18 preview: Map and profile of 143km route to Hautacam

Stage 17 report: Vingegaard retains yellow jersey despite Pogacar’s epic win

11:39 , Lawrence Ostlere

Team UAE Emirates obliterated the Tour de France peloton with a pace so relentlessly high they turned stage 17 into the most brutal yet, leaving big names scattered and gasping for air along the baking roads of the Pyrenees, and setting up a hard-earned victory for Tadej Pogacar on the Peyragudes summit. But the one man they most wanted to crack, the yellow jersey of Jonas Vingegaard, clung on gamely to Pogacar’s wheel throughout the blitz of pace and pain, and despite everything his overall lead remains virtually intact.

Full report:

‘I can still win’: Tadej Pogacar vows to keeping fighting for Tour de France

Fabio Jakobsen makes time cut by 16 seconds

11:33 , Lawrence Ostlere

A great video here showing exactly what the sprinters go through to make it over the mountains to Paris to finish the Tour de France. Fabio Jakobsen made yesterday’s time cut with 16 seconds to go, then collapsed in a heap.

Unfortunately for him and the other fast men, today is arguably even tougher.

Brandon Mcnulty wears red bib today

11:27 , Lawrence Ostlere

Today’s red bib will be worn by Brandon McNulty after the young American put in a monstrous turn on the front of the lead group to set up Tadej Pogacar for victory on Peyragudes yesterday, and deservedly won the combativity prize as a result.

“The way the team rode today, we were only four riders, and to take the stage win is incredible,” Pogacar said after the stage. “Mikkel [Bjerg] rode like a climber today, he set such a good pace, it was unbelievable. I felt good with that pace. And then Brandon [McNulty] did an amazing job, a special mention to him.

“I gave absolutely everything. I know that I need to win, there’s no other way. I gave it all for the team to the line, and I’m so happy.”

Team classification after stage 17

11:22 , Lawrence Ostlere

Just quietly, it has been a good Tour for Ineos. They have Geraint Thomas in line for a podium finish, they won the iconic stage of the Tour as Tom Pidcock surged to victory on Alpe d’Huez, and they are in line to win the team classification too.

The only criticism might be that we haven’t seen them do enough targetting of stages, given the firepower of Thomas, Pidcock, Adam Yates, Dani Martinez and Dylan van Baarle. Thomas’s GC ambitions have put paid to that to some extent, but then in years gone by Jumbo-Visma managed to marry podium finishes with multiple stage wins, and so perhaps Ineos could have picked up one or two more along the way.

1. Ineos Grenadiers, in 93 hr 17 min 10 sec

2. Groupama-FDJ, at 28 min 51 sec

3. Jumbo-Visma, at 33 min 54 sec

Young rider classification after stage 17

11:17 , Lawrence Ostlere

Pogacar is going to win the young riders’ white jersey. Wouldn’t it be nice to see this awarded to an actual rookie, first-time rider like Pidcock, rather than a two-time champion? It always seems a bit devalued when it’s won this way.

1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 67 hr 56 min 12 sec

2. Tom Pidcock (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 30 min 05 sec

3. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 58 min 21 sec

Mountains classification after stage 17

11:12 , Lawrence Ostlere

Can Simon Geschke cling on to the polka dot jersey? There are a lump of points available at the stage finish today and as it is very likely we will see Vingegaard and Pogacar collect the majority of them, so Geschke needs to get up the road early and get over the first climb or two quickly to combat that with points of his own.

1. Simon Geschke (Deu) Cofidis, 64pts2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, 52pts3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 46 pts4. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, 41pts5. Louis Mentjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, 39pts

Points classification standings after stage 17

11:07 , Lawrence Ostlere

The points have pretty much been decided, with Wout van Aert certain to win the green jersey he has held for so long, unless he doesn’t make it to Paris.

1. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, 416 pts2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 202 pts3. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix, 196 pts4. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo, 158 pts5. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, 155 pts

General classification after stage 17

11:02 , Lawrence Ostlere

Here is how the overall standings are looking after stage 17:

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo Visma 67h 53min 54sec

2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates +2min 18sec

3. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers +4:56

4. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa-Samsic +7:43

5. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ +7:57

6. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM +9:21

7. Louis Meintjes (Rsa) Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux +9:24

8. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe +9:56

9. Adam Yates (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers +14:33

10. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar +16:35

Tour de France 2022 – stage 18 LIVE

10:43 , Lawrence Ostlere

Will Tadej Pogacar finally break Jonas Vingegaard or will the young Dane take another stop towards winning his first Tour de France? Follow all the action from a crucial stage 18 right here.