Tour de France 2024: stage 15 sets another huge test in Pyrenees – live | Tour de France 2024

30km to go: Before that final climb, over 15 or so km, there’s been much talk over the radio, ice packs taken on, gels necked. Jorgenson went off ahead the main group, and found himself looking around. The peloton is hanging back for now. Any launching will take place on the final climb.

35km to go: Angus Chisholm has a rather forceful point to make. And at length, too.

“The sanctimony regarding the chip thrower is pretty astonishing on a day when it’s come to light that there are several riders in the peloton (a compact group of people who will be exhaling and inhaling vast volumes of shared air) who are cycling with Covid, a disease which voluminous authentic scientific research has confirmed can lead to a) debilitating fatigue, b) neurological damage, c) skeletal muscle damage (still, it’s not like there’s been an obvious and marked increase in muscle injury issues across several sports around the world in the last few years… oh) and d) increased risk of cardiovascular disease, inter alia. There are several cases of athletes prematurely forced into retirement due to these proven sequelae of infection, to say nothing of Sonny Colbrelli’s career-ending cardiac arrest days after his own Covid bout. Only Evenepoel’s doctor appears to be alive to some of these risks, but then his team appear to be turning him out in close-to-useless surgical masks.

“Maybe it’s just me, but if I were a high performance athlete who had dedicated my life and made countless sacrifices towards the pursuit of competitive sporting excellence, I’d rather take on the risks of some uncoordinated nitwit throwing a packet of crisps at me on my bicycle than any of the above. But then, we seem to be in ignorance is bliss mode. The level of denialism in professional sports surrounding a newly introduced disease that affects all systems of the body related to athletic performance is astonishing, particularly when one of the industry’s dominant mythologies is the use of science to wring every last possible competitive advantage out of the athlete.”

40km to go: The quintet stays away, and actually adds a few seconds to the gap on a peloton taking it easy down this descent. A flat spot to come but for now, they weave through the villages before the final Plateau de Beille comes.

That Cav group, losing time, but there may be safety in numbers. Ahead of them is the group featuring Biniam Girmay in the green jersey.

50km: No mercy shown by this course as on an uncategorised climb, Simon Yates and Ben Healy are pulled back into the peloton. Tobias Johannesson is making his way back to the leading quartet. A brave ride from him.

Jai Hindley, a previous stage winner, has serious credentials. The gap to the peloton is 2’30 or so. Pogacar has three helpers, Vingegaard has just two. The Cavendish group is already 30 seconds down. The latest – and longest – descent begins.

55km to go: The descent begins of that leading quartet, with Norway’s Tobias Johanesson 30 seconds back and on a solo chase. The yellow jersey is three minutes behind – bridgeable, it would seem.

De Plus takes mountain points, Carapaz second

62km to go: Sivakov, a key Pogacar lieutenant, is shelled. Carapaz closes to the leading trio as they take on ice and fuel. Romo, who led over that previous climb, is now back in the main field but dropping ever backwards. So too Lenny Martinez, the French debutant couldn’t turn it on for Bastille Day. It’s brutal.

65km to go: There’s five at the front, Laurens de Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Jai Hindley, Matteo Sobrero (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Enric Mas, and Healy looks in danger of being dropped, though joins up with Carapaz, who is making up time. Sobrero is dropping back.

In the peloton, Vingegaard has been reduced to one teammate, as Evenepoel, while Pogacar looks stacked. All to play for, much to lose on that final climb.

67km to go: Carapaz sets off after the breakaway of the breakaway. He’s 47 seconds down. Back in the field, Nils Politt and Wout van Aert have been dropped. The domestiques are gone, and the GC contenders may have to work for themselves on that final climb.

70km to go: Rather oddly, before they reach the climb, the break is competing with each other, and there’s a gap of 40” to the group containing Richard Carapaz, a great climber. Red Bull team and Movistar have two men in this leading group. Ben Healy is up there with them. Simon Yates has dropped back, too, with almost a minute to make up. The Col D’Agnes is 10km, 9.9% gradient.

75km to go: Col d’Agnes is 5km away, and has featured five times previously. Alberto Contador was the last rider to go over the top in 2017. The first, in 1988, was Robert Millar.

80km to go: Simon Reeves gets in touch: “In the Netherlands, watching on NOS, and the commentary is at most sporadic—more like listening to a couple of bored middle aged men watching tv in a bar. I don’t speak a lick of Dutch, so they could be talking about the rashes on their arses for all I know. A way, I get to enjoy the race (from the Guardian) and the scenery from the tv.”

So does Gary Naylor: “Back in the day, the GC teams would call a truce, let the breakaway get ten minutes and ensure that a rider from it gets the stage before they fight for the overall lead. One of the more dispiriting aspects of 21st century Grand Tours is the hoovering up of mountains points by the usual suspects and the consequent devaluing of the Climbers’ jerseys. Let them have a day in the sun, eh lads?”

90km to go: The peloton – for now – seems happy to let this large group of non-GC contenders stay away. Simon Yates looks favourite if they manage to stay away. It’s up to three minutes.

100km to go: A speedy descent, and bidons taken on. Pogacar has gone back to his team car and seems to be annoyed about something. Mark Cavendish is off the back, 20 minutes or so, with two huge climbs to come. The break has extended its lead to the peloton to 2’ 40”, though Meintjes is no longer with them after a mechanical.

120km to go: John Little gets in touch: “Afternoon Mr Brewin, they are going up the steep side of the Aspet today, which does in 5km what the ascent from St. Girons does in 30km. On our last trip up, we couldn’t even outpace the forest bees, full respect to all the riders and doffed cap to Casartelli.

“Double weekend shift for you we see- it’s a dirty job etc- and very grateful we are as you are our only live access today. Are we really going to have to wait ‘til Friday for this Tour’s Pantani/Galibier moment? As for the commentary, we agree that Duffers is hugely missed and we’re big Sean fans here at Owl Towers.”

Guy Hornsby: “Afternoon John, afternoon everyone. On the cycling commentary, I’d agree there’s no perfect team. Back in the day it was of course Sherwen and Ligget, but I’d argue there’s better now. I’d second Millar as a favourite and ITV in general. He’s always illuminating, and still knows the Peleton really well, and works well with Ned, who is a bit hyperbolic but I like that he came to cycling late and fell in love with it. And Pete Kennaugh brings an ego-free voice too. Gary Imlach is, to me, the don of it all, ageless and sanguine. I do really like Eurosport, especially seeing Dani Rowe lately, and I have a soft spot for the Cycling podcast, especially Daniel Freibe and Mitch Docker. Really, we’re spoilt for choice in the UK.”

To be honest, this has served to kill the nerves ahead of the match tonight. On pod duty, talking bollocks into the night.

127km to go: William Preston gets in touch: “This brilliant from the off! This Col de Mente is beautiful, but the riders are getting such a Decent stomp on today they surely are missing the scenery.

“As I switched on the television, I thought for a moment it was the familiar sight of an FDJ team leader slipping off the back of the peleton, but was delighted to read Gaudu is up the front nd taking mountain points. As a team, they promised so much over the past ten years to top the GC, but bad luck hasn’t stopped their thrilling heroics when the road goes up with some brilliant rides! I note that Pinot is bike packing to Nice and looks very happy in his dotage.

“Have a wonderful afternoon, I’m off to the zoo so will rely on the most excellent coverage here!”

132km to go: S.Yates (Jayco-AlUla), De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Hindley, Jungels, Sobrero (RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Martinez (Groupama-FDJ), Carapaz, Healy (EF Education Easypost), Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech), Martin (Cofidis), Mas, Aranburu, Romo (Movistar), Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty), Onley (dsm-Formenich) and Johannessen (Uno-X) are the break, but just a minute ahead of the peloton.

They go over that summit, and the descent begins. There wasn’t much of a push for the polka points on offer.

135km to go: Little rest for the wicked as they head over this peak. The descent took them past the memorial to Fabio Casartelli,

140km to go: The descent drops down and down, some nasty hairpins, nastily steep before yet another climb approaches, a first category, the Col de Portet D’Aspet.

148km to go: The break goes over the Col de Mente, a grim old gradient. Richard Carapaz looks in good nick but is beaten to the top by Javier Romo of Movistar. Simon Yates is in the break that now begins a long descent.

Bad news for Big Sir Jim’s team.

Biniam Girmay penalised five sprint points

150km to go: Simon Yates, like his brother Adam yesterday, if far earlier in the race, is trying to bridge to the break. The peloton is 1’ 30” behind Simon Yates and his fellow chasers. Ben Healy is alongside him, and full of attack.

155km to go: This is the break that enters Marignac and has a first-category climb up 10km or so to the Col du Mente ahead that will almost instantly split the pack. And does so. Rui Costa is one of those to blow out early. As is Girmay, who will be back in the grupetto before too long.

Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla), Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers). Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek), Nans Peters (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Nico Denz, Jai Hindley and Bob Jungels (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ), Rui Costa (EF Education-EasyPost), Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech)
Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Enric Mas, Alex Aranburu, Davide Formolo and Gregor Mulhberger (Movistar), Louis Meintjes and Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty), Magnus Cort and Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) Mathieu Burgaudeau and Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies)

Girmay in green takes 20 sprint points

165km to go: The gap is a minute to the yellow jersey group. No Philipsen. Girmay could end up closing off the green jersey by winning the imminent sprint.

Should say, of the new breed, a fan of Orla in the studio and Adam Blythe, good Sheffield accent plus all over the detail. Peter Kennaugh is good on that, too. Need more Chris Boardman, too.

170km to go: Into Luchon, they go, and something of a breakaway is formed. Girmay is in there ahead of that sprint.

Gary Naylor gets in touch: “Who are your preferred voices behind the mics? I find Ned Boulting a little too keen to sell the drama when the pictures speak for themselves, but I still go with ITV because David Millar knows his stuff and has a beautiful voice. Also, Gary Imlach is unimprovable, the best sports anchor for a decade or more. On Eurosport, they also suffer from speaking too much, but the revolving cast never find the chemistry the best teams need when there are hours to fill – not sure how you fit Robbie McEwan and Sean Kelly into the same studio.”

I go as far back as Richard Keys being the main man, but Gary Imlach is the pro’s pro. Like Ned a lot – a gent – and David Millar is great, as you say. As I have a Discovery sub I tend to watch Eurosport, and while I lament David Duffield – and used to think David Harmon was good – I don’t mind a Carlton Kirbygasm, and Rob Hatch is Mr Dependable. Jonathan Harris-Bass is a former colleague, a very droll man. Always good to hear him and his recipes. I should save a word for Richard Moore, so sadly missed, who brought us the excellent Cycling Podcast, with Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie. As for Sean Kelly, I love his verbal tics – “the general classement” and “the Tour of France”. And you can’t argue with him as a cyclist. That golden era is still the one I go back to.

180km to go: Next comes a descent. There’s a grupetto already formed, Cavendish included. Bardet, Lazkano and Gaudu are the breakaway trio. There’s a sprint at the bottom that should interest Girmay. Here’s the polka points just won, and what comes ahead. The gap to the yellow jersey group is just 10 seconds.

David Gaudu takes 1o mountain points

195km to go: Neilson Powless is the first to make a move up the type of climb your car would be in second gear and screaming. Arnaud DeMare and Mark Cavendish are among the sprinters already spat out the back. Romain Bardet is up the front, so is Ben Healy, and so is Jai Hindley. Adam Yates is keeping watch at the front of the yellow jersey group.

Away they go up the Col de Peyresourde!

More on Dorito-gate

Today’s stage is steep. Look at that start. Loudenville is being traversed for the depart fictif.

Evenepoel seems to be looking backwards towards Carlos Rodriguez of Team Ineos. He still has the time trial to come, too.

News on the Dorito chucker.

The spectator who threw a packet of chips at Tadej Pogacar yesterday was taken into police custody for aggravated violence according to Le Parisien. He will be interviewed by the gendarmes today after a night in the sobering up cell.

General classification at start of stage 15

Jeremy Whittle reported from Saturday’s summit finish.

Pogacar admitted after the stage that he was indebted to his British teammate Adam Yates, whose lone attack, seven kilometres from the finish, paved the way for the Slovenian’s explosive effort.

“It was a little bit of improvisation,” Yates said after the stage. “I was ready to do the pace, as usual, and Tadej told me to attack. I was like, ‘What?!’”

Yates revealed that Pogacar’s tactics are sometimes even a mystery to his teammates. “With Tadej, I’ve got no idea sometimes. This morning, he said: ‘You can win if you go full gas.’ You never know.”

The Netflix cameras will have garnered plenty of material from Saturday. More of the same.

Over the years, the great double acts have all made a deep mark on cycling’s consciousness. French bike racing has never got over Poulidor and Anquetil, whose rivalry reached its zenith 60 years and two days ago. The Italy of the 1940s and 50s was bitterly divided between the tifosi of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. A single Tour de France, 1986, created a narrative of conflict between Hinault and Greg LeMond which remains a bone of contention to this day. In Belgium, the cold war between Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck lasted for most of the early 1970s, centred on the great one-day Classics. This year, the sport is embracing what has the makings of the finest soap opera of them all: Pogacar and Vingegaard.

William Fotheringham’s stage 15 guide

More Pyrenean nastiness; anyone who is struggling will dread the start straight up the Col de Peyresourde. Three early first category climbs soften the legs, the Col d’Agnès will create an initial selection before a climax up the 15km “Plateau of the Bees”. It’s Bastille Day, so the French climbers will be buzzing: a final flourish for Romain Bardet or Warren Barguil, perhaps, or a breakthrough for Romain Grégoire or Lenny Martinez. More likely, a foreigner will win.

Preamble