After another week of exciting bike racing, with plenty of heroic efforts, unfortunate setbacks, some mystery and even tragedy for a few riders, the mood of the Tour has shifted. In the first week riders had commented that the race felt more relaxed than previous years. Now the stakes are clear and the remaining contenders are doing battle…

The key stages in the second week of the Tour de France 2019 seem to have been Stage 10, classed as a flat stage, the Individual Time Trial, and Stage 14, to the summit of Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees. These stages included surprises, and produced swings in the rankings that sealed the deal against many of the riders hoping for a podium finish.