Tour de France Stage 19 LIVE - Laporte reels in leading trio and holds off pack to take surprise win in Cahors

It was close but no cigar for Britain's Fred Wright today, who was pegged back in the final kilometre and ended up with an 18th place that didn't reflect his ride.

"I saw the opportunity on that climb with 30km to go and in everybody’s minds it was going to be a sprint. I saw a few guys attacking and it opened up and I decided I was just going to go. I went flat-out as hard as I could to the top – and we had a gap. The three of us kept fighting and I’m not disappointed. I wouldn’t have won a bunch sprint – I was close but, you know, sometimes it’s just the way it goes. I knew the bunch was coming so I just committed to it. But fair play to Laporte – he came round with some speed. He’s got legs."

The Slovenian came fifth in that finale and a split in the pack means he moves to within 3'21" of the yellow jersey of Jonas Vingegaard - which should be pretty easy to take back in tomorrow time trial, given his record against Jumbo-Visma riders on the penultimate days of Tours...

In his eighth Tour, Christophe Laporte finally has a maiden stage win - and he did so in spectacular fashion. The 29-year-old has been one of the signings of the season - an integral component of Jumbo-Visma's classics squad, a Tour domestique extraordinaire, and now the team's third rider to win a stage in this exceptional race they're having. Here's how he did it...

Jasper Philipsen left it too late to reel in Laporte and the Belgian can only take second place ahead of Alberto Dainese. Florian Senechal and Tadej Pogacar completed the top five, with sprinters Dylan Groenewegen and Caleb Ewan making the top 10 but not cutting the mustard. There appeared to be an issue for Wout van Aert there in the finale - but it's no matter, he rolls in alongside teammate Nathan van Hooydonck all smiles when they learn of teammate Laporte's stunning win.

The Frenchman pegged back Wright and then powered clear, anticipating all the attacks from behind before cresting the top of the rise to hold off the pack. And that's the first French win of the race - and a fifth win for Jumbo-Visma.

Christophe Laporte bridged over to the leaders under the flamme rouge before Fred Wright kicked clear. What an exciting finale this will be...

They pass the 3km marker and that will ease things up for the GC riders. The pack is closing in on these three riders out ahead... Peter Sagan looks menacing.

The Australian just put in a big pull to pave the way for Dylan Groenewegen - and when he peels off, it's the green jersey once again who takes it up with Vingegaard in his wheel. Ineos are right in the mix too as they ride for the 3km rule and their man Geraint Thomas's podium place. The three leaders have just 10 seconds and here come Lotto Soudal...

Now Quick-Step finally send a man onto the front - it's Mattia Cattaneo, the Italian, who tucks un just ahead of the green jersey who has the yellow jersey in his wheel. After all this, we'll probably see Wout van Aert take a third stage win today. The gap is down to 18 seconds.

Here's a video of that earlier attack from the white jersey - just as this three-man move edged clear of the pack.

Despite the intense chase this trio still has 28 seconds to play with. TotalEnergies have knocked it off and it's just Lotto and Alpecin now. This reminds me of stage 18 of the Giro when the sprinters' teams burnt all their matches and Dries De Bondt held on for the win. Can one of this trio take the spoils? Wright looks super calm but Stuyven, by contrast, is grimacing and seems to be in a world of pain.

Our three leaders still have 30 seconds but TotalEnergies, Lotto Soudal and Alpecin-Deceuninck are really going for it. The absence of QuickStep and BikeExchange suggests that Fabio Jakobsen and Dylan Groenewegen have either blown or are not up for it - and with this rolling terrain and the slight uphill kick to the line, you can't blame them.

That audacious move from Pogacar came after Alexis Gougeard had gone up the road. After the lull that followed the white jersey being caught to heel, Jasper Stuyven and Fred Wright kicked clear and bridged over to the Frenchman. This trio now has a lead of 30 seconds and are rolling along with intent.

My, oh my... we've seen it all now. It's a last throw of the dice for the defending champion, who decides to attack to put Jumbo-Visma and Jonas Vingegaard under pressure. It comes to nothing with Wout van Aert - and others - closing it down. But you have to admire the Slovenian for his audacity and drive.

Quinn Simmons, our lone leader, is riding out of the saddle up the Cote de Saint-Daunes, which is 1.6km at 6.3%. It's the last categorised climb of the day but we still have some lumps and bumps, including the home straight which rises to the line at 3%. The American goes over the top with a gap of just eight seconds - prompting him to laugh, sit up and wait for the cavalry.

The Slovenian is back in the pack now ahead of the next climb. Simmons won't throw in the towel but he is surely doomed. It has got stressful because all the GC riders don't want to get caught out - plus the teams of the sprinters are being ever attentive.