Julian Alaphilippe stunned Geraint Thomas and the rest of the Tour de France field to win a stage 13 time-trial around Pau by 14 seconds and strengthen his hold on the yellow jersey. The Frenchman was supposed to lose time here and the question coming into the stage was whether he could limit the damage; instead he beat Thomas’s time and smashed chunks out of the rest too, stretching his lead in the general classification over second-placed Thomas to 1 min 26 sec.

“I didn’t really expect that,” Thomas said of Alaphilippe. “He’s obviously the one to watch. If he can keep that up then he’ll win. But there’s a long way to go and some hard stages to come now.” Thomas seemed a little frustrated with his own ride and revealed a small chink in his armour for the first time. “That last bit, I didn’t feel like I really had it,” he said. “In the final 8km I didn’t have that last five per cent.”

Even so, it was still an exceptional ride by the reigning champion, who finished second on the stage and took significant time out of the rest of the top 10. Coming into the stage that seemingly would have constituted a great result for Team Ineos, but Alaphilippe looks so strong right now that he cannot be ignored – even if he is dismissing his own chances.

“We don’t have a team to win the Tour de France, without any climbers,” he said of his Quick-Step line-up, who are designed to win individual stages on the early flat and hilly stages rather than attack in the mountains. “I just went full gas and I see what I can do until the line, and my sporting director said to me you are 10 second up, and I give everything. I can’t believe it.”

The Danish national time-trial champion Kasper Asgreen set the running early in the day until his time was beaten by the Belgian who stormed to a memorable breakaway victory on stage eight, Thomas De Gendt.

Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Show all 52 1 /52 Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France 2019 Tour de France The route from Brussels to Paris, via the Pyrenees and the Alps, in what has been dubbed "the highest race in history". letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat) After Dylan Groenewegen crashed in the final 2km, his Jumbo-Visma teammate Mike Teunissen took up the charge and pipped Peter Sagan on the line to win both the stage and the yellow jersey. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 1 Mike Teunissen, right, edges out Peter Sagan on the finish line. EPA Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial) Team Ineos set the early pace but Jumbo-Visma produced a stunning ride to double down their control of the yellow jersey. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 2 Team Ineos finished second in the team time-trial. Reuters Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly) Julian Alaphilippe's late surge earned him an impressive stage win and the first chance to wear the yellow jersey in his career. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 3 Julian Alaphilippe celebrates on the finish line. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat) The sprinters got themselves in position and Quick-Step's Elia Viviani came out on top on the streets of Nancy. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 4 Elia Viviani crosses the finish line to win stage four. EPA Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly) Bora-Hansgrohe worked as a team to carry Peter Sagan over the rolling Vosges hills and into the finish where he was too strong for the rest. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 5 Peter Sagan celebrates his triumph on the finish line. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous) Dylan Teuns held on to win an epic stage as Giulio Ciccone finished second and claimed the yellow jersey. Geraint Thomas impressed, finishing fourth. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 6 Dylan Teuns wins the sixth stage. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat) The longest stage was not a thriller, but Dylan Groenewegen impressed as he clinched the sprint finish. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 7 Dylan Groenewegen won the seventh stage. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly) Thomas De Gendt stormed to a memorable solo victory, holding off the chase of Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot by a few seconds. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 8 Thomas De Gendt reacts to his victory on the finish line in St Etienne. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly) Daryl Impey clinched his first Tour de France stage. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 9 Daryl Impey on the winners' podium. AP Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat) The wind caused chaos in the peloton as Wout van Aert sprinted to victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 10 Wout van Aert celebrates his victory on stage 10. AP Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat) Caleb Ewan pipped Dylan Groenewegen on the finish line. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 11 Caleb Ewan celebrates on the podium. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous) Simon Yates surged to victory to complete the set of Grand Tour wins. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 12 Simon Yates clinches the victory on stage 12. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) A little lumpy but no serious climbs, meaning the best pure time-triallists – Rohan Dennis, Serge Pauwels, Bob Jungels – will be eyeing the chance to win a stage. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) One of the most eye-catching stages of the Tour, with the Col du Soulor draining the legs before the legendary Col du Tourmalet, with a summit finish where all the big climbers – like Geraint Thomas, Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana – will all want to claim a famous victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) One of the toughest days of the Tour, with more hard climbing and more tests for those in the hunt for the yellow jersey. The final 75km contains three category one climbs, finishing atop Prat d'Albis. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Some relief for weary legs as the peloton comes down from the mountains to take a far more leisurely ride around the south of France. The flat finish into Nimes, where the stage also starts, is tempting for any sprinters who survived the Pyrenees, if their team can carry them to the front of the race. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) A first taste of the Alps. Through the Rhone Valley and on to Gap, this is not an easy stage with plenty of gentle but long inclines and the sharp Col de la Sentinelle inside the final 10km which stands between any breakaway and a stage victory. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) This is likely to be a decisive day in the battle for the yellow jersey, with the famous Col de Vars, Col d'Izoard and Col du Galibier, all peaking above 2,000m. They are long and steep, with fast technical descents, and the winner of this Tour de France is going to have to withstand plenty of pressure on this day. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) Stage profile. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) A shorter day but still difficult, with a summit finish in Tignes coming after the monstrous Col de l'Iseran, the highest paved road in Europe. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) The final Alpine stage is another brutal one, with the huge 33.4km drag up to Val Thorens to finish once again above 2,000m for the third time in this Tour, something never done before. This is a Tour de France which will be won in the clouds around the Alps, and if the yellow jersey can beat his rivals to Val Thorens he will have clinched the race victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) The procession to Paris will offer any remaining sprinters one last chance for glory, and the opportunity for the race winner to sip champagne after a tough three weeks. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) Final kilometre.

De Gendt would have been one of the first to ride past his compatriot Wout van Aert lying on the ground on the roadsid after the 24-year-old clipped a metal barrier on a fast right-hand bend. Van Aert, who sprinted to victory on stage 10 riding in his first Tour de France, was tipped to challenge for the win on the time-trial too and was running only a few seconds behind De Gendt’s pace when he suffered the nasty looking crash. He was quickly treated on the sideline before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

“Wout van Aert unfortunately has to abandon the race after his crash,” his team Jumbo-Visma tweeted. ”He is conscious and has a flesh wound at his right upper leg.”

Soon the big hitters came down the start ramp. French climber Thibaut Pinot and Colombian Rigoberto Uran both finished in the top 10, as did Alaphilippe’s team-mate Enric Mas, taking the young rider’s white jersey from Ineos’s Egan Bernal in the process.

Julian Alaphilippe comes into the finish (Reuters)

Jumbo-Visma’s leader Steven Kruijswijk clocked sixth to climb to third in the GC, but like the rest of the field he was no match for Thomas who crossed the line 22 seconds quicker than the man who had sat in the hot seat for an hour, De Gendt.

In pursuit back down the road, the luminous yellow figure of Alaphilippe was surging under the flamme rouge, driven up the brutally steep final climb by the now maniacal French fans around him. He crossed the line with his tongue out in typically extrovert style before being mobbed by his Quick-Step team. “Woohoo!” he screamed, as his second mightily impressive win of this Tour began to sink in.