Nat Bromhead
22yo Team Ineos rider Egan Bernal is poised to win the 2019 Tour de France after jaw-dropping scenes that saw Stage 19 of the race stopped due to an alpine landslide.
As the lead riders passed the 2700m col d’Iseran the red race director’s vehicle was seen to accelerate toward the lead two – Simon Yates and Rigoberto Uran – and indicate to them the stage was suspended.
Confusion reigned, riders and commentators were startled, and a few moments later television pictures showed the reason the race had been stopped. Hail and the massive slurry was covering a section of the road … machinery operators were frantically working to clear the debris but their task was futile.
The finish times of stage 19 were taken at col d’Iseran and Egan Bernal, who crested the climb two minutes ahead of yellow jersey wearer Alaphilipe, was named the new leader of the Tour de France.
With two days to go Bernal had an advantage of 45 seconds over Alaphilipe and 90 seconds over teammate and reigning champion Geraint Thomas. No stage winner was awarded for stage 19.
