Key events

3h ago Kilometre Zero
3h ago DeBruyne exits the race
3h ago General Classification Standings
4h ago The points classification
4h ago King of the Mountains Standings
4h ago Preamble
4h ago William Fotheringham stage guide

50km to go The main group has absorbed the Pidcock group, yet the leaders hold a 2'06" advantage on the descent.

Hello Alistair Connor. Valentin Paret-Peintre, with his lengthy name, shows no shortness of breath today. As the climber's sprinter he has achieved a notable success. It is unfortunate his brother Aurelien, part of the now-dissolved Pidcock group, could not join him. Two sets of brothers in the break would mark a first. I pose this family query to the audience.

57km to go With these mountain points Paret-Peintre assumes the virtual King of the Mountains lead with 43 points ahead of Pogacar on 42 and Carapaz on 38.

60km to go The peloton front now glimpses the rear of the Pidcock group, separated by just over 100m. Paret-Peintre glances back repeatedly and claims the points, 25 for the day so far, while Carapaz settles for second.

62km to go UAE has accelerated the peloton, trimming 45 seconds from the lead on this climb. Ten more points await the first rider over the Ballon d'Alsace, just one km from the summit.

64km to go In the peloton, polka-dot jersey wearer Vingegaard rides behind yellow-jersey Pogacar.

I like this move from Tom Pidcock, writes friend Gary Naylor from the County Blog. If he seeks a Paris podium, riding the super-domestiques hard this weekend makes sense. Facing rivals directly offers his best shot, though it risks backfiring, yet he avoids a Tuchel-style approach.

65km to go Correction: Thymen Arensman has been caught by the Pidcock group following that untimely flat tyre.

67km to go French prospect Kevin Vauquelin has fallen from the Pidcock group along with Sebastian Berwick. Gaps remain steady with leaders at 1'51" over the Pidcock group, Arensman in between, and 2'52" over the peloton.

68km to go Weather indicators shift as riders return to sunshine for the second consecutive day on the Ballon d'Alsace. This tough climb averages 6.9 percent. Carapaz misses a turn and loses seconds.

75km to go Arensman continues solo between the leaders (47" behind) and Pidcock's group (1'10" ahead). The category-one Ballon d'Alsace climb lies ahead.

79km to go. Rain and steep slopes mark the descent. The wet road gleams black. Wet disc brakes screech audibly.

80 km to go Crowds gather on the final climb sections with German, French and Welsh flags waving near riders. Healy, ever unselfish, pulls the leaders up the Col du Page. Valentin Paret-Peintre takes mountain points, Richard Carapaz follows second, then TH Johannessen and Einer Rubio.

85km to go Campenaerts has been caught by the peloton. Pidcock's group extends its lead over the peloton to a minute yet trails the leaders by 1'45". Just over a km remains to the Col du Page summit.

89km to go Arensman suffers a rear puncture and drops from the chasing group. The front group of Paret-Peintre, Carapaz, Healy and the Johannessen brothers extends its lead to 2'30" over the peloton, now joined by Rubio.

90km to go Another climb, 6.9km to the Col du Page top. The peloton closes on Pidcock's group to 25 seconds behind.

Earlier news: when Paret-Peintre crossed first he became the first Frenchman in 34 years to win the Grand Ballon.

100km to go Leaders enter the final 100k with 1'15" on Pidcock's group and 1'52" on the peloton.

Thomas Pidcock. I think of him as Stuart, writes Alistair Connor. Not wise to feature in the break two days running as surprise is lost and break mates will resent him if caught.

106km to go Top five descend amid light rain on camera despite sunshine. Rain alters descent perception per TNT commentators. They lead the peloton by 1'55".

118km to go Paret-Peintre edges Carapaz for KOM points and they press on, pursued by Healy and the Johannessen brothers.

123km to go Ben, Alors Mon Garcon reads a sign. An indirect alliance in this front group to pressure UAE, says Adam Blythe. This group is under one km from the Grand Ballon top, still 1'14" ahead of the peloton.

123km to go They continue climbing with 2.5k left. Three pink shirts lead headed by Georg Steinhauser plus a fourth EF rider.

123km to go An email arrives, nice to hear from Bronagh McAtasney. Ben Healy is clever. Knowing Pidcock in the break limits the gap, today could be his chance until Pogacar acts.

I am picking Ben for the win daily until he succeeds. Healy and Castrillo have been caught temporarily and rejoin the lead group. Healy is indeed smart. Hoping for his stage win this Tour.

124km to go Healy and Castrillo extend a ten-second lead over pursuers as climbing resumes. Crowds close in with cowbells and applause.

126km to go A cheerful Father Christmas rings a bell as the peloton passes. Healy and Castrillo have advanced on a plateau of the Grand Ballon.

133km to go Past flags, camper vans and parasols they climb. The gap over the peloton rises slowly to 1'13". Write in if you spot something missed.

133km to go Tom Pidcock has joined the front bunch center in the most combative jersey.

134km to go The break holds a minute on the peloton where UAE sets tempo.

135km to go A large group ahead of the peloton split in clumps includes Antonio Tiberi, Tobias Johannessen, Marc Hirschi, Thymen Arensman, Richard Carapaz, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Quinn Simmons, Jan Tratnik, Bruno Armirail and Egan Bernal.

136km to go Riders pass in and out of tree shadows. Gaps appear in the peloton with no UAE in the first fifty. Bruno Armirail makes a brief escape attempt.

138km to go Initial moves begin cautiously. EF Education stretches the peloton with Ben Healy in pink at the front.

139km to go They begin the 21.5km Grand Ballon ascent, the second-biggest climb this Tour, through crowded villages onto tree-lined roads.

143km to go NSM leads the sprint with 25, 20, 16 points for top three. Philipsen stays calm for 25 points, Pedersen second, Kanter third, Girmay fourth. The green jersey gap narrows to 36 points.

145km to go Bright sunshine returns after dark skies. Alpecin riders lead the peloton aiming to position Jasper Philipsen for sprint points, 2.4km remaining.

151km to go The intermediate sprint is 8.5km away and Alpecin controls the front.

Kilometre Zero

The race director emerges into damp conditions, waves his flag, and riders depart in pouring rain. No early attacks in poor weather as sprint and GC teams guard the peloton front.

Rain turns to hail, reminiscent of Raymond Briggs Father Christmas.

It is already raining, slanting into riders approaching kilometre zero.

Rain features today amid steep climbs, four classified ascents and 3800m of gain over 155km.

Studio discussion covers possibilities. I like to see Jonas go for a stage win, nice for an underdog, says Robbie McEwen. The panel suggests he should aim for victory.

The third podium spot battle remains open.

DeBruyne out of the race

A sore throat and fever have ended Ramses DeBruyne's Tour. He sat sixth in young rider classification and 18th overall.

They have started, 12.5k to the depart reel.

Good vibes in the bus, says yellow-jersey Pogacar, and everyone knows their role. Ominous, the studio concludes.

The start is about five minutes away and it appears warm though the thermometer shows 26 degrees.

General Classification Standings

Studio talk covers Tom Pidcock's ride yesterday that boosted his GC position. Audacious all day, says Robbie McEwen. Probably the most talented rider GB has produced, adds Adam Blythe.

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): 47hrs 18mins 31secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike): +3mins 36secs
3. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): +4mins 06secs

4. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 pro cycling team): +4mins 15secs
5. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek): +4mins 22secs
6. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team): +4mins 35secs
7. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): +4mins 44secs
8. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): +5mins 08secs
9. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek): +5mins 45secs
10. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious): +6mins 34secs

The points classification

Green jersey standings.

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) 377
2. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) 336

3. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) 333
4. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) 307
5. Max Kanter (XDS Astana Team) 239
6. Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 210
7. Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) 159
8. Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) 129
9. Milan Fretin (Cofidis) 117
10. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 107

King of the Mountains Standings

A maximum of 35 points available for polka dot jersey contenders today:

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 42
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 27
3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) 19

4. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 pro cycling team): 18
5. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) 18
6. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 18
7. Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 17
8. Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) 16
9. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) 16
10. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 14

William Fotheringham stage guide

Stage 14, Saturday 18 July: Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering, 155.3km

A brutal climbing day including a 106km loop passing the finish twice, at the top of the first-category Grand Ballon after 43.9km, then finally via the Col du Haag, a steep narrow climb, 11km at 7 percent up what the manual calls a forest path converted to cycle path. That follows the Ballon d'Alsace climbed for the second straight day. Shorter mountain stages now often see early escapees denied space for the win; this has Pogacar or Vingegaard written on it.

Preamble

Hello! A weekend of mountain suffering in the Vosges awaits riders, and enjoyable afternoons of viewing for the rest of us.

An excellent first Tour win for Switzerland's Mauro Schmid yesterday in a sprint finish came with a surprise GC rise for Tom Pidcock, who starts today fourth. Experts expect him no free ride now with a target on his back.