Gallery
Status Quo? T18-92
Yes, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) are up the road, but the top positions on the general classification seemed to be holding each other's wheels. There isn't much change happening despite the pre-stage billing for fireworks on this final climb. Right now, Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) is on the back of the select group being led by Egan Bernal (Sky), with the maillot jaune of Geraint Thomas (Sky) on his wheel. Next in line is Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) and then it is Mikel Nieve (Movistar) and, oddly, Chris Froome (Sky) is hanging around the back. Somewhere, but not in this painting, are two riders from Lotto NL Jumbo. Just after I finished this painting, Bardet lost the wheel of Froome and slipped back down the mountain, and the GC. I should point out the Orca on the back of Sky's jerseys. They are supporting Ocean Rescue and drawing attention to the plastic pollution of our oceans.
The fans on the side of the road do seem to be getting out of the way. No one wants to take another big man of the Tour out of the race. It is funny to see the one fan with the "Sagan" sign. This isn't exactly the kind of terrain where the world champion shines.