Stage 17: Bollène → Valence (160–161 km)

• Winner: Jonathan Milan (Lidl‑Trek) claimed his second stage win in rainy, chaotic conditions, out-sprinting Jordi Meeus and Tobias Lund Andresen

• Weather & Finish: A soaked finale with slippery roads resulted in late crashes—including Tim Merlier and Biniam Girmay—but Milan emerged victorious thanks to excellent positioning and team support

• GC Status: Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey, holding a 4′15″ lead over Jonas Vingegaard, with no changes in the top five overall

• Points Classification: Milan extended his lead in the green jersey standings, tallying 332 points

• Youth Classification: Florian Lipowitz continued to lead, setting the stage for mountain battles ahead 

Stage 17 Summary

Strategically, the sprint teams controlled the stage, allowing Milan to deliver a textbook final lead-out in miserable conditions.

Stage 18: Vif → Courchevel (Col de la Loze), ~171.5 km — Queen Stage

This Alpine monster featured 5450 m of climbing, including the Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine, and the brutal summit finish on Col de la Loze (26 km at ~6.5 %)

Results

Key Moments & Analysis

• Ben O’Connor broke away late solo and powered to victory—his second career Tour win. He attacked from a break and stayed away from 17 km out on the final ascent. 

• Tadej Pogacar responded decisively, countering repeatedly and ultimately outgunning Vingegaard near the summit to extend his yellow jersey lead by an additional ~11 seconds.

• Jonas Vingegaard launched multiple attacks but couldn't shake Pogacar. His team’s tactics failed to dent the Slovene's momentum.

• Oscar Onley delivered a breakout ride, finishing just 22 seconds off the podium and moving to within that margin of a historic GC podium for Scotland 

Classification Impact

• General Classification: Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by approximately 4′26″ in GC after Stage 18, with Lipowitz still in third (well back) and Onley now just 22 seconds behind him. 

• Mountains Classification: Pogacar strengthens his position in the polka dot jersey race, distancing contenders like Martinez and Vingegaard.

Summary

• Stage 17 was a grueling, sprint-centric day disrupted by rain and crashes. Milan emerged victorious and extended his points lead. Pogacar rode conservatively and lost no time.

• Stage 18 reshaped the race. O’Connor’s solo heroics stole the day, while Pogacar reinforced his yellow jersey authority by putting real time into Vingegaard. Onley’s rise adds new intrigue heading into the final Alpine test.

With GC dynamics shifting and just one major mountain stage left, all eyes now turn to Stage 19 (La Plagne) for further drama.

Stage 19: Albertville → La Plagne

Updated Route & Key Facts

• Distance: shortened to 95 km (originally 129.9 km) due to an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle near the Col des Saisies, forcing organizers to bypass that region

• Climbs removed: Côte d'Héry‑sur‑Ugine and Col des Saisies; race now rejoins original route around km 52 

• Remaining key ascents: Col du Pré (HC), Cormet de Roselend (Category 2), finish at summit of La Plagne (HC – 19.1 km at ~7.2%) Elevation gain: roughly 3,350 m, a serious test despite shorter distance

Strategic Landscape & Stakes

• This is the final opportunity for GC riders to alter the standings before flatter stages and the ceremonial finish in Paris. Pogacar holds a 4:26 lead over Vingegaard, who may launch one last push here

• With time bonuses (10, 6, 4 seconds) at the finish, even small moves could matter for podium positions—particularly for Florian Lipowitz who now leads Oscar Onley by just 22 seconds for the white jersey spot and third overall 

What to Watch

• Early breakaway potential: reduced distance and immediate climbing (the first ascent now around 52 km mark) could allow aggressive riders to escape early and fight for the stage win. If GC teams control, it might come down to GC contenders on La Plagne.

• Vingegaard’s redemption bid: after multiple attacks on Ventoux and Col de la Loze yielded no time gain, Visma-Lease a Bike may gamble everything here—Pogacar’s response will be crucial .

• Lightweight climbers like Onley: could shine if the GC favorites hesitate—he may seize a podium spot or even stage glory. Pogacar’s control vs opportunism from others is the central drama.

Stage Summary Table

Final Take

Even though Stage 19 was shortened, it retains brutal climbing and high stakes. With Pogacar’s lead secured for now, Jonas Vingegaard and his team must take risks if he’s to shift the race. Meanwhile, riders on the fringe of GC or hunting stage glory may launch the biggest crazed moves on La Plagne’s slopes. In essence: it’s a short, explosive Alpine finale that could still redefine the podium.