Welcome to live coverage of stage 19 of the Tour de France - a long 204.5km trek through the Alps from Bourg-d'Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand. Today's brutal stage will be a real test - especially after the yesterday's leg-sapping dramatics on Alpe d'Huez. Two HC ascents of the Col de Madeleine and the Col de Glandon are followed by three more tough climbs and then a fast descent to the finish.

Tour de France

Stage 19 | Mountain | Men | 19.07.2013

Completed

Le Bourg-d'OisansLe Grand-Bornand

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Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 19/07/2013 at 16:39 GMT

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Highlights

0km

No change for the top three today on GC, with Froome holding a 5:11 gap on Contador and a further 21 seconds on Quintana. But while Froome's overall victory seems a formality, the battle for the remaining two podium places should provide the fireworks tomorrow, with Contador, Quintana, Roman Kreuziger and Rodriguez all separated by just 47 seconds.

0km

The GC riders pass under the 1km-to-go banner, and it's Porte and Froome leading the group. Valverde and Gadret will cross the line first, but there won't be any change for the main players of this year's race.

0km

Here comes Pierre Rolland, looking utterly miserable as he crosses the line 6:40 down after giving it his all. He won't be up on the podium tonight, but he'll wear the polka dot jersey tomorrow because Froome, who leads him by one point now, will be in yellow.

0km

The remnants of that big break are crossing the line in drips and drabs, meanwhile back with the main pack of favourites, Porte has returned, so he'll be on hand should Froome have a problem.

0km

Jan Bakelants takes third place 1:44 down ahead of Alexandre Geniez and Dani Navarro.

0km

Andreas Kloeden crosses the line for second place, 48 seconds down on the winner.

0km

Rui Costa gets up the final ramp before pointing to the sky with both arms to celebrate his second victory of this year’s Tour - and a third in his career.

1km

Under the banner for Rui Costa and now he starts to punch the air! The team car drives up along him and he gives his Movistar DS a high five...

1.5km

No smiles yet from Costa even though he still has one minute on Kloden.

3km

Costa is onto drier roads now, and despite entering a roundabout unsure whether he's meant to be turning left or right, he recovers well and will surely win this stage.

4km

Quintana ups the tempo towards the summit to test the others, but then drops back with Contador and Rodriguez and Froome, while Valverde and Gadret ride off ahead on the downhill.

6km

ATTACK: Rodriguez, then Quintana and then Contador accelerate off the front of the main pack. Froome has it covers, and they join Valverde and Gadret to make a small six-man group. Richie Porte is not there.

8km

Andreas Kloden leads the chase - but it looks too little, too late. He's one minute behind Costa, with the other chasers another 30 seconds back.

10km

Costa has a minute on the chasing riders and so should win this one provided he stays upright.

12km

Costa's biggest enemy now is himself - and the weather. He has to take it easy on this wet descent or he could come a cropper.

13km

Despite the soggy weather, the crowds are huge at the summit! Here comes Costa, he picks up 10pts as he goes under the banner - and has 13km downhill to the finish.

14km

One kilometre until the summit for Costa. Nine minutes further back, Valverde is joined by Gadret. Laurens ten Dam, the wolfman, is off the back. This Tour has been a week too long for the Belkin rider.

14.5km

The main pack is now just around 30 riders strong, with Mick Rogers now fading fast, Andy Schleck too. On the front, it's Kreuziger and Contador, with Froome, Porte, Quintrana and Rodriguez right behind.

14.8km

Now John Gadret of Ag2R-La Mondiale attacks from the main pack in pursuit of Valverde.

15km

Attack from Alejandro Valverde from the peloton! Seems a bit pointless, although perhaps he's going for a top ten place on GC.

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