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Live Reporting

Peter Scrivener

All times stated are UK

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  1. Post update

    And that feels like a decent place to end today's live. I'll be back from the slightly later time of 14:00 BST on Sunday for the final knockings of stage 15, a relatively flat 222km race from Tallard to Nimes which should end in a bunch sprint.

    Geraint Thomas has already said he's pretty tired and expects to spend most of the day sheltering in the peloton. Here's how he sees the race shaping up:

    "I can't see anything other than a bunch sprint in Nimes. The General Classification riders and their teams will be taking it easy after a couple of tough days in the mountains. For the sprinters' teams of Andre Greipel and Marcel Kittel though, this will be a day to be near the front trying to set up their man. There's only two other stages for the sprinters to shine and with a rest day to follow, they can afford to go full gas."

    Tour de France
  2. Post update

    After such a disappointing race from a British point of view with defending champion Chris Froome and sprint king Mark Cavendish crashing out in the opening week, it was great to see Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates get in the break today.

    Although both faltered on the final climb, Orica GreenEdge's Yates came in just over three minutes down in 21st, while Team Sky's Thomas was 29th overall, six minutes, 37 seconds back, it was a tremendous effort from the pair, particularly Thomas who spent much of the break on the front.

  3. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "The way that Majka's riding at the moment, I wouldn't put it past him to take the polka dot jersey. Rodriguez really did look like he was struggling today."

  4. King of the Mountains

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    Despite finishing 31st on today's stage, Joaquim 'Purito' Rodriguez did just enough by winning the first two climbs to take back the polka dot jersey.

    1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) 88

    2. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff-Saxo) 88

    3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 86

    4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) 49

    5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) 40

  5. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "I think Simon Yates has the potential to win stage races. The one thing I don't know about him is his time-trialling ability. I can't imagine him staying in this race, I think Orica GreenEdge will pull him out, because he's so young."

  6. General classification after stage 14

    Yellow Jersey

    Classification

    1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 61hrs 52mins 54secs

    2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +4mins 37secs

    3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +4mins 50secs

    4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +5mins 06secs

    5. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +5mins 49secs

  7. Stage 14 result

    1. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) 5hrs 08mins 28secs

    2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) +24secs

    3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +26secs

    4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +50secs

    5. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) Same time

    6. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +54secs

    7. Fraenk Schleck (Lux/Trek) +1min 01secs

    8. Laurens ten Dam (Ned/Belkin) +1min07secs

    9. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp) +1min 20secs

    10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1min 24secs

  8. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "I love that three of the top six are French, it's great for the race. They are riding out of their skins. Froome and Contador are out, Quintana isn't here, but you can only beat what's in front of you. They deserve to be riding at the pointy end of this race."

  9. Post update

    Some words from our stage winner Rafal Majka: "This is my first victory and maybe it's not finished, get in another long breakaway and try win another stage. This is a victory for Alberto Contador because we came here trying to win the Tour for him."

  10. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "I thought Nibali could have afforded to sit back today, but he attacked out of the group, and that was what really put the pressure on Valverde. I actually think Valverde did a good job in limiting his losses to the riders chasing him - Bardet, Pinot, Van Garderen. I don't really know what to say about Nibali, other than he is by far the strongest rider in this race."

  11. Majka's maiden Tour win

    Rafal Majka at the finish on stage 14

    A few days before the Tour de France, Rafal Majka, who was sixth at the Giro d'Italia and wasn't scheduled to race the Tour, said on Twitter that he was not ready and it was not right to put the 24-year-old in for two consecutive Grand Tours.

    I wonder if the Polish Tinkoff-Saxo rider has changed his mind.

  12. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Another incredible stage, a tough day with the climbs that we had. There was a lot of damage done on the Col d'Izoard. AG2R did all the damage on the descent and that created havoc in the group behind. Geraint Thomas did all the work on the front for Nieve, but unfortunately for Team Sky, it didn't work, again."

  13. Post update

    White Jersey

    Classification

    Romain Bardet is in the best young rider's white jersey and has a 16-second lead over Thibaut Pinot. But Pinot wants to make a point and puts in a sprint finish to beat his compatriot, not that it will make any difference in the standings.

  14. Nibali second

    Vincenzo Nibali stays clear of Peraud to claim second and there is an almighty battle for fourth between the two Frenchmen chasing the white jersey.

  15. CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

    RAFAL MAJKA WINS STAGE 14.

  16. Post update

    Rafal Majka is inside the final 300m and he has a huge smile on his face - he knows he has won this stage and the thousands of fans on top of the mountain are giving him a tremendous reception.

  17. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Nibali is going to become a bit unpopular if he keeps winning so many stages. He's riding up to Majka, the gap is coming down very, very heavily. He's winning this Tour de France right here. right now."

  18. Final kilometre

    Just 1km to go for Majka. Can he take his first stage win on his debut Tour? He is 35 seconds clear of Nibali. Rather than chasing a fourth stage win of this Tour, maybe Nibali will be content to put more time into his rivals for the overall race win.

  19. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Valverde is really suffering here, he's finally cracked. The fight for the podium is on, and Bardet, Thibaut Pinot and Tejay Van Gardern are riding away from him."

  20. Post update

    Nibali is pushing hard and has reduced the deficit to 34 seconds as he goes under the 2km to go banner. Peraud is happy in his wheel and will take the tow to the finish line.

    What of Rodriguez? He has cracked and slipped back down the field.

    Valverde has also cracked. Van Garderen, Pinot and Bardet are off in pursuit of Nibali. Sensational scenes with riders attacking all over the mountain.

  21. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Nibali just drifted towards the back of the group, had a look at everybody's faces, saw a lot of suffering, and decided to put in the dig. At the moment, Peraud is the only one who can go with him."

  22. In the peloton

    Eventually Alejandro Valverde responds and he is joined by Tejay van Garderen and Thibaut Pinot and Roman Bardet make it a foursome.

    Majka is just 2.5km from the summit but Nibali's effort has reduced his advantge to just 47 seconds. This stage is far from over.

  23. Nibali attacks

    With 4km remaining Nibali attacks. He goes from several riders back to take everyone bar Peraud by surprise.

  24. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Purito Rodriguez has to fight - Majka is up in the top five of the King of the Mountains classification. De Marchi isn't going to give him a turn though - he just cannot come through on him."

  25. Post update

    Pierre Rolland is the answer. He jumps a few bike lengths clear but Jean-Christophe Peraud of AG2R covers the move and the rest of the bunch ride tempo back on to their wheels.

    Majka is continuing on his lonely ride to the summit. He has a 69-second lead with 4km remaining.

  26. In the peloton

    Nibali has no Astana team-mates left with him, but then, as he showed on Friday, he doesn't necessarily need them. An AG2R rider continues to pace Romain Bardet, with NIbali sitting in his wheel and Movistar's Alejandro Valverde following the Italian, who will make the first move?

  27. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Simon Yates has outlasted the Team Sky boys, what an incredible ride by him today. The AG2R machine is just sending riders off the back of the peloton. If AG2R and Movistar can agree on something, they could put Nibali in a bit of trouble here."

  28. Post update

    A quick chapeau for Britain's Simon Yates. His day out front is finally over 5.5km from the summit as he is caught by the yellow jersey group. A tremendous ride nonetheless by the 21-year-old Orica GreenEdge rider.

  29. In the break

    Joaquim Rodriguez is grimacing and it looks like he's not going to get the stage win he covets. His main aim will be to finish close enough to Nibali to ensure he takes the polka dot King of the Mountains jersey outright.

  30. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Mikel Nieve is going to be swallowed up by the rest of the peloton. Team Sky played their cards today, but after all that work, they aren't going to get the best out of this stage. Not a good day again for Team Sky."

  31. In the break

    De Marchi finds some energy and is back on the wheel of Rodriguez. I can't see him doing too much work though. They are 19 seconds behind Majka, the Tinkoff-Saxo rider who finished second on Friday's opening Alpine stage. Just 6.5km to ride.

  32. In the break

    Rafal Majka bridges the gap to De Marchi, pats the Italian on the backside as he rides past him, indicating that he should get in his wheel. De Marchi can't match the Polish rider's pace though.

    Coming up on the blind side is Purito. The polka dot wearing Spaniard whizzes past De Marchi and sets off in pursuit of Majka, who leads Nibali's group by just 38 seconds.

  33. In the break

    Lampre's Jose Serpa goes with De Marchi and the two have opened a significant gap on the rest of their fellow escapees. De Marchi attacks again and this time Serpa has no answer.

    He still has 9km to the summit though and just a 42-second lead over Vincenzo Nibali, who you feel could just take a fourth stage win if he wants to.

  34. In the peloton

    Here goes Alessandro De Marchi. The Italian knows this climb well and has decided he has the legs to go for the victory.

    No reaction from Geraint Thomas who is riding tempo with Team Sky team-mate Nieve in his wheel. And as I type that, Geraint drops away to the side. Big effort by the Welshman. Can Nieve finish it off?

    10km to go.

  35. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Richie Porte is losing the wheels at the back of the peloton, he's really struggling and the climb hasn't even started. That's not a good sign whatsoever."

  36. Porte faltering

    There is the sign to mark the start of the final climb to Risoul. Just 12.6km remaining on a slope with an average gradient of 6.9%. AG2R chug on to the descent like a TGV train and immediately chop 20 seconds off the advantage of the leaders.

    The pace is so high that riders immediately drop out the back - Richie Porte is one of the more noticeable names and he is facing a long and lonely ride to the summit.

  37. In the break

    Britain's Geraint Thomas is back on the front of the race but his efforts are proving fruitless as AG2R continue to put the hammer down on the road to Guillestre. There is just 65 seconds between the two groups as the bare down on the bottom of the final climb.

  38. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "AG2R are desperate to try and bring this back. They're going to empty everything on these flat roads, and then when we get to the climb, I feel sure a couple of them are going to peel off to the side of the road."

  39. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "From the front group, I can't see past Purito Rodriguez or Mikel Nieve for the stage win. Sky are the only group with two riders in the breakaway - they have the tactical flexibility of having both Geraint Thomas and Nieve up there."

  40. In the peloton

    The AG2R train is doing the damage in the peloton. They have the white jersey of best young rider Romain Bardet in their ranks. He is third in the overall standings as well. Bardet is four minutes, 24 seconds adrift of Nibali, does he fancy a stage win today and clawing back some time on the race leader?

  41. Racing to Risoul

    As Rob says that though, Tejay latches back on to the group with Nibali. His BMC Racing team-mates have done a terrific job in pacing him down the mountain and with 23km remaining the peloton is reformed.

    This is going to be a fascinating ascent to Risoul. It has never been used in the Tour before, but was the finishing place of the 2013 Criterium du Dauphine.

    A certain Alessandro De Marchi won that day and the Italian is still in today's break. Surely his legs will be shot from yesterday's effort though? The lead is down to 90 seconds with 18km remaining.

  42. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Tejay van Garderen was fifth this morning, he's the big loser in the general classification today. He looked good yesterday, but he hasn't descended well at all."

  43. In the break

    Just 25km remaining on stage 14, the second half of that is all uphill though. British duo Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates are firmly ensconced in the 11-men out front as they descend into Guillestre, where the final ascent to Risoul will commence.

    They are leading a bunch of about 11 riders, which features, Nibali, Fuglsang et al by 107 seconds.

  44. The chasers

    There are huge gaps forming in the peloton as the descending specialists fly down the mountain like madmen. Nibali is chancing his arm bunny-hopping over a tiny ridge in the middle of the road through the village of Arvieux.

    AG2R's Romain Bardet and Jean-Christophe Peraud, Astana's Jakob Fuglsang and Movistar's Alejandro Valverde are all in the group with Nibali and they are just two minutes behind the leaders.

  45. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "I wouldn't be surprised if Vincenzo Nibali chose to take it on here. He's such a good descender. But Valverde does not want to let Nibali out of his sight, so he will drop like a stone on this descent."

  46. Post update

    The next 30km is pretty much all downhill before the race goes uphill for one final time in the Alps to tackle the climb to Risoul. The peloton is led over the top by Astana, two minutes and 58 seconds behind Rodriguez.

    What will the tactics be for Nibali? Does he fancy an easy ride to the finish? The closest rider to him in terms of time in the front bunch is Geraint Thomas and he is more than 14 minutes back. Surely Valverde has to attack at some point?

  47. Post update

    Rob Hatch

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Alessandro de Marchi is looking good, and he has good recent history with this final climb. We had a stage finish of the 2013 Dauphine here, and that was the day that De Marchi surprised Froome, Talansky, Porte, Fuglsang, all those people."

  48. Points for Purito

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    But here comes Rodriguez and the Spaniard cruises over the line to pick up 25 points and that puts Purito in the virtual polka dot jersey.

  49. Post update

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    Nieve comes up alongside Thomas and gives him a bottle. Just 10 riders left in the lead bunch as they approach the summit at 2.360m. Rafal Majka suddenly takes over at the front. Britain's Simon Yates is still up there, which is a terrific effort by the 21-year-old.

  50. In the break

    The leaders are just 1km from the roof of the Tour. Who is going to get the Souvenir Henri Desgrange? There is no doubting that Britain's Geraint Thomas deserves it for the way he has dragged everyone up the mountain but you know Joaquim Rodriguez is ready to kick.

  51. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "The pressure is completely off Team Sky now. They can just go for stage wins. It sounds bizarre, but I think Geraint Thomas is having fun today, and the fact that Nicholas Roche has dropped off the front group just shows how much pressure he's putting on."

  52. In the break

    Geraint Thomas is doing a lot of work on the front of the leading bunch, is he pacing for Team Sky team-mate Mikel Nieve? His efforts are keeping the leaders three minutes clear of the peloton.

    The Welshman puffs his cheeks out as he tries to keep the pace high. Nieve is three riders back and has Rodriguez in his wheel.

  53. Post update

    Rob Hayles

    Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "The big winner in this leading group is Joaquim Rodriguez. He scored the maximum 10 points on the first climb and there are still 45 to go. Twenty-five for the first to the top of Izoard and the last climb is a category one but because it is a summit finish, it's double points, so 20 more there. Purito will be looking to get himself in the polka dot jersey outright."

  54. Live now

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles have just begun their live commentary of the closing 50km of today's stage in the Alps. Tune in via the link at the top of this page. UK readers only I'm afraid.

  55. In the break

    Just 7km to the summit of the Col d'Izoard and the leaders have a lead of more than three minutes again. Hundreds of campervans line the roadside with Swiss, Slovakian and British flags fluttering among the dozens of French tricolores.

  56. In the break

    There are still 15 men in the break. Peter Sagan and Albert Timmer are the men who have dropped away. Mikel Nieve of Team Sky stretches his legs off the front of the leaders.

    The good news for those out front is that they have repelled the NetApp Endura charge. The final one of their trio who were pushing the pace on the front peloton has dropped away, leaving Nibali's Astana team to take over. How much are they prepared to chase?

  57. Get involved

    Le Tour de France: C'est parti pour le légendaire Col d'Izoar ! / Let's start the mythical Col d'Izoard!

    Col d'Izoard
  58. In the peloton

    NetApp Endura are down to two men at the front of the peloton and their exertions on the descent of Lautaret, through Briancon and up the early part of the Izoard climb are starting to show.

    Their deficit to the diminishing bunch out front is about three minutes with 55km remaining.

  59. Porte's plans

    There has been no sight of Team Sky's Richie Porte today. The Australian spoke to French TV before today's race: "Yesterday was a terrible day for me. But the Tour is not over. I'm not in super form today either but there will be other difficult stages next week.

    "Maybe I can still save something and make something out of this Tour. It's not up to me to attack Nibali anymore. GC is over for me but a stage win might still be possible."

  60. Post update

    Absolutely stunning scenery in the Alps as the peloton continues to give chase to those in the breakaway.

    Tour de France in the Alps
  61. Nightmare for Demare

    French champion Arnaud Demare is back at the doctor's car. He is doing a canny bit of freewheeling uphill while he takes some medical advice, suddenly remembering that he should perhaps at least look like he is still making an effort and turns the pedals over a couple of times.

  62. In the break

    Team Sky's Geraint Thomas leads the group of 17 up the Hors Categorie (most difficult) climb but Peter Sagan is not following with any real gusto and he is the first man dropped.

    The advantage of the leading bunch is 2'45"

  63. Roof of the Tour

    Giant-Shimano's Albert Timmer makes a err....meal of collecting his lunch bag. The handle snaps and he's left to try and work out how to continue riding while extracting his goodies.

    And the riders hit the bottom of the climb. It is the 34th ascent of the Col d'Izoard, which was first tackled in 1922. The first man over the top will pick up a 5,000 Euro bonus payment but more importantly will receive the Souvenir Henri Desgrange.

    The prize is awarded each year to the first man to reach the highest point on the Tour and is named after the race's founder.

  64. In the break

    The riders are heading into Briancon where they will pick up their food bags for the afternoon.

    They are at an altitude of 1,191m, meaning they will be embarking on a vertical ascent of almost 1,200m over the next 19km as they tackle the Col d'Izoard. The average gradient of the climb is 6% but the gradient in the last 7km does not dip below 7.5%.

  65. In the break

    A front-wheel puncture for Peter Sagan who comes to an abrupt halt. It takes a few seconds for one mechanic to slip him a new wheel and a different mechanic to give him a hefty shove. and he is pushing hard to get back in the break.

    But their lead is disintegrating rapidly. Under three minutes now and they are 5km from the bottom of the Col d'Izoard.

  66. In the peloton

    NetApp Endura have put three men on the front of the peloton. The team formed in 2010, a merger between Team NetApp and British-based Endura Racing.

    They were given a wildcard for the Tour and therefore not expected to trouble the more-established teams but Leopold Konig's third-place finish on Friday has undoubtedly buoyed the team.

    And their efforts on the front of the peloton has reduced the gap to the break to around three minutes, 30 seconds. Astana will be loving this, taking it easy in their slipstream.

  67. Starting soon

    BBC Radio 5 live

    At 15:00 BST UK website readers will be able to listen to live commentary of the closing stages of today's race. Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles will be in the commentary booth. I don't think they are tackling the climb to Risoul after yesterday's exertions to Chamrousse.

  68. Get involved

    Fraz in Glasgow, via text on 81111: Izoard is long draggy climb with a tough kick to the top, with long and incredibly fast descent to last climb. Odds on for another stage win for Nibbles the shark!

    Is it going to be another Nibali procession to the finish? If not, who has the legs to take on the Italian?

    Tweet #bbccycling or text 81111 with your name and Cycling on all texts.

  69. In the peloton

    The Astana-led peloton cruises over the summit five minutes after Rodriguez. And what goes up, must come down. A 30km descent follows the 34km ascent.

    And this looks like it could be a speedy drop into Briancon before they tackle the Col d'Izoard. The road is wide with sweeping corners, giving the riders maximum opportunity to build up their pace to approaching 100km/h - 60mph.

  70. Tummy trouble

    Remember I was telling you about a rider nipping off into a campervan (see 13:30) - it was French champion Arnaud Demare. He wasn't off for a bacon sarnie though, a touch of diarrhea delayed him, according to the Tour de France website. I hope he knew the people he popped in to see.

  71. Post update

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    Joaquim Rodriguez is the first man over the top. There was not too much of a fight and he will move within seven points of King of the Mountains leader Vincenzo Nibali - not that the Italian will be in the slightest bit bothered.

  72. Post update

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    Huge crowds on the approach to the summit. Yorkshire white rose flags and Union flags adorn the roadside. And there's a Welsh one, which will no doubt give Geraint Thomas a lift.

  73. Post update

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    The leaders are within touching distance of the top of Col du Lautaret. Ten points on offer for the first to the summit, who wants it most? Alessandro De Marchi, the Italian Cannondale rider, who was the last man caught on Friday's break, is limbering up to spoil Purito's party...

  74. Domestique duties

    Lotto-Belisol rider Tony Gallopin, the man who won the race leader's yellow jersey on stage nine and then picked up a race victory on stage 11, is not immune to domestique duties.

    The Frenchman, who was in yellow for Bastille Day, is back at the team car picking up bottles to distribute to his team-mates.

  75. In the break

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    The 17 riders out front, including Joaquim Rodriguez in the polka dot jersey

    Perhaps sensing a bit of lethargy in the peloton, the 17 riders out front have put a little spurt in as they continue to go upwards. This climb still has 5km to its summit - when will Joaquim Rodriguez make his move to try and take maximum points.

    They are now approaching five minutes clear as the race helicopter pans out to show snow-capped peaks in the distance.

  76. Perks of the job

    French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is a guest at the Tour de France today. He'll join Tour director Christian Prudhomme in the shiny red lead car after the leaders have descended Lautaret.

  77. In the peloton

    What's this in the bunch? A couple of riders sprint out of the front of the peloton and Nibali's Astana team are happy to let them go. But it's not an attack. They slide over to the right of the road, dismount and jump into one of the campervans lining the hillside.

    It looks like one of those pre-meditated moves where local riders are allowed to ride at the front through their home villages, although I've never seen anyone disappear before!

    Perhaps he had a cup of tea and a bacon butty waiting.

  78. Post update

    My colleagues on the BBC News Magazine have been exploring 'why sprinters are muscly and climbers are wiry'.

    It basically seems to come down to muscle weight and gravity, although Peter Sagan appears to be the man that breaks the rule. You can read more here.

  79. In the break

    The Romanche river is tumbling gently down the valley as the leaders continue to ascend Lautaret. They are a little over 10km from the summit, which you may, or may not know, is not too far from another famous Tour climb - the Col du Galibier.

    British duo Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates are happy enough in the break. Thomas has been back to the Team Sky car for a chat. Hopefully trying to pick the right moment to attack.

  80. Missing Le Tour

    There are not too many fans lining the road this far down from the summit but one French family look like they may have set up camp a while ago judging by the paraphernalia strewn in their lay-by.

    A friendly cyclist at the front of the peloton throws an empty bottle their way but all it does is distract young Jonny who scrambles under the car searching for it, thus missing the procession of riders cruise by. His mother shrugs her shoulders and waves them on.

  81. Get involved

    John McEnerney: Huge statement from Vincenzo Nibali yesterday. Alejandro Valverde attacks won't stop there, he'll have to show his metal everyday from now until Paris.

  82. In the peloton

    The peloton snakes across the terrifyingly high road that goes over the Chambon Dam as the riders continue to climb the Col du Lautaret - they have moved into the Hautes-Alpes, the high Alps.

    Lautaret tops out at 2,058m and the leading bunch are still 20km, or 12 miles if you prefer, from the summit.

  83. Get involved

    Le Tour de France: @petosagan confiant avant d'affronter 3 cols mythiques / @petosagan confident before facing 3 mythical climbs.

    How long will The Terminator be smiling for today?

    Peter Sagan
  84. In the break

    The leading bunch also features Tinkoff-Saxo riders Rafal Majka and Nicolas Roche who have presumably been given the freedom to chase a stage win following the demise of their team leader Alberto Contador.

    The 17 out front are working well together and are more than four minutes clear of the chasers. Team Sky's Mikel Nieve is back with the break after dropping back to get a new wheel after puncturing.

  85. Get involved

    Now we're up to speed with today's race and the various classifications, it's time to share your thoughts.

    Looking out of my window, the MediaCity piazza resembles a lake and the rain doesn't look like it's stopping any time soon. It's not an afternoon to be out, is it?

    So fire up the desktop/laptop/tablet/mobile, get on the turbo trainer and make like a climber.

    Will Purito retake control of the polka dot jersey? Will Valverde attack and get the better of Nibali? Are we going to see the best of Geraint Thomas now Sky's victory hopes are out of the window? Could he win today's stage from the break?

    Tweets to #bbccycling and texts to 81111. Texts need name and CYCLING at the front of your message so I can find them please.

  86. Purito chasing polka

    Polkadot Jersey

    Classification

    Katusha rider Joaquim Rodriguez

    The man in second in the King of the Mountains classification, Joaquim 'Purito' Rodriguez, is in the 17-man break which is not a huge surprise, given this tweet from his team.

    Katusha Team: Joaquim Rodriguez still in polka dot, we hope he will take this jersey back!

    Purito wears the polka dot jersey because Nibali is in the yellow jersey - he was clearly not best pleased at losing the top ranking though, tweeting a bunch of crying emoticons after struggling on Friday's stage.

  87. General classification after stage 13

    Yellow Jersey

    Classification

    Nibali's sensational ride strengthened his hold on the race lead as he finished 50 seconds clear of Alejandro Valverde - the Italian also took over as leader of the King of the Mountains classification and to mark the fact, he has had one yellow jersey and one polka dot jersey drawn onto his bike.

    1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 56hrs 44mins 03secs

    2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 37secs

    3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +4mins 24secs

    4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +4mins 40secs

    5. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +5mins 19secs

  88. In the peloton

    Yellow Jersey

    Classification

    No panic in the main bunch with Nibali's Astana team setting the pace as they ride through the valley. When questioned why he went for the stage victory to Chamrousse on Friday, Nibali said: "Winning in yellow is more prestigious."

  89. In the break

    The front bunch is made up of:

    Mikel Nieve and Geraint Thomas (Sky), Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Rafal Majka and Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo), Peter Sagan and Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale), Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin), Christophe Riblon (AG2R), Albert Timmer (Giant-Shimano), Jose Serpa (Lampre), Amaël Moinard (BMC), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Nicolas Edet and Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) and Simon Yates (Orica GreenEdge)

    The best-placed rider in the overall standings is Britain's Geraint Thomas, who is 18th overall, 14 minutes, 05 seconds adrift of race leader Vincenzo Nibali.

  90. Post update

    The sprint came early today, after just 40km, so now we can concentrate on the mountains. We are in L'Alpe d'Huez country but the Tour is not tackling the 21 hairpins this year, it's straight on to the eye-watering 34km ascent of Col du Lautaret, which has an average gradient of 3.9%.

  91. Post update

    Green Jersey

    Classification

    ...but first up is the matter of the intermediate sprint. No surprises that Peter Sagan is first over the line to pick up 20 points and extend his lead in the points race.

    The Slovakian Cannondale rider made a huge effort to make sure he got in the break and he was allowed to roll over the line because none of the other riders in the front bunch are chasing points for the green jersey classification.

  92. Two Brits in break

    And animate the race Team Sky are trying to do. Today's stage began a little under an hour ago and group of 17 riders have broken clear. Geraint Thomas and Mikel Nieve, both of whom were key riders for Chris Froome and Richie Porte, are in the select bunch.

    Thomas's feloow Brit, Simon Yates of the Orica GreenEdge team is also in the leading bunch, which is around three minutes, 30 seconds clear of the peloton, which contains race leader Vincenzo Nibali.

    A full run down of the 17 out front coming right up...

  93. Team Sky to animate race

    Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford conceded that Richie Porte's chances of getting back into the top 10 are not great but he said: "We've had plenty of good days in the Tour de France over the last couple of years but we've had two difficult days [on this Tour] with Chris Froome crashing out, and everyone could see it was a tough day for Richie Porte.

    "We'll take stock and see if we can get into a situation where we can animate the race - there's no point us just coming here and riding round.

    "We've got to take the blows - it's not easy, it's disappointing - and think about the coming days in the mountains and what opportunities we've got to do other things in the race."

  94. The classification leaders

    (l-r) Peter Sagan, Joaquim Rodriguez, Vincenzo Nibali and Romain Bardet

    As is customary at the start of each stage, the wearers of the four main jerseys set off alongside each other. Today in Grenoble was no different. From left to right, they are: Peter Sagan in the green points jersey, Joaquim Rodriguez in the King of the Mountains polka dots, Vincenzo Nibali in the race leader's yellow jersey and Romain Bardet in the best young rider's white top.

    Rodriguez is second in the King of the Mountains classification but wears the top because the leader is Nibali and yellow trumps polka dots.

  95. Get involved

    Rui Costa (left) and Pierre Rolland at the end of stage 13

    World road race champion Rui Costa: We must respect our opponents. I wish you all a good day :) @PierroooRolland

  96. The final day in the Alps

    Hello and welcome to live text commentary of stage 14 of the Tour de France and what a stage we have in store today. Three mountain ascents, the roof of the Tour at the top of the legendary Col d'Izoard and another summit finish, all packed in to a 177km race from Grenoble to Risoul.

    It's not a day for the sprinters then, as Geraint Thomas points out in his stage-by-stage guide:

    "This will be another hard day in the saddle and it could prove interesting because we go over 2,000m twice in one day and altitude affects different riders in different ways. The Col d'Izoard is the highest point in this year's race and the first to reach the summit will get the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, named after the race founder. We are right into the thick of the race now and there will be tired bodies. It's another day for the main contenders."

    Stage 14 route map
  97. Rare bad day for Team Sky

    Richie Porte (left) and team-mate Mikel Nieve cross the finish line on stage 13

    "If it happens to me it can happen to others, so I'll keep pushing," said Team Sky's Richie Porte after he hit the wall on the climb to Friday's summit finish at Chamrousse and fell from second to 16th in the overall standings, more than 11 minutes behind race leader Vincenzo Nibali.