The 3-time champion captures the 13th stage to hold on to the yellow jersey and increase his lead to more than four minutes over rival Jonas Vingegard.

PEYRAGUDES, France — Tadej Pogačar delivered another crushing defeat to his Tour de France rivals by dominating an uphill time trial and reinforcing his grip on the yellow jersey on Friday.

After yesterday’s brutal Pyrenean test the Tour de France gets even tougher, with the riders set to tackle a short but definitely not sweet mountainous time trial.Stage 13 is only 10.9km long but hits gradients of 16% as the riders climb steadily from a flatter opening section in Loudenvielle all the way up to the altiport at Peyragudes in the Pyrenees.

Tour de France riders have applauded for a minute before the 12th stage in memory of Samuele Privitera, the 19-year-old Italian who died after a crash while racing in Italy.

The Tour de France has reached Toulouse and the riders have definitely earned their first rest day with ferocious pace as we near the halfway point of the three-week race.

Route map, profile and start time on blockbuster day of climbing as race enters Pyrenees - After an opening week of skirmishes expect battle to seriously commence among the GC contenders today as the