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12:34:36 - Welcome To The Live Coverage Of Stage 19

The 19th stage of the Tour de France is considered a 'transitional' day taking the peloton closer to its anticipated rendezvous with Mont Ventoux. Conditions are hot for the 178km journey from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas in the Ardeche. Before the start, the mercury has already risen beyond the 30 degrees (Celsius) mark and it's expected to reach the mid-30s during the stage. There is virtually no wind today for the southerly route that includes three categorized climbs, the cat-4 cote de Culin (6.5km), the cat-4 cote de la Forêt de Chambàran (at 40.5km) and the cat-2 col de l'Escrinet (16km from the finish).

The riders will leave the site of the 'depart fictif' at 12.45pm. Live coverage of the stage will commence shortly.

12:46:05 - Ready To Roll...

The peloton is lining up ready to ride through the neutral zone at the start of stage 19. It's only a brief roll before the flag will be waved by race director Christian Prudhomme to signal the start of racing. The official start is expected to be at around 12.50pm.

12:48:01 - 158 Riders In The Race

There were 158 riders at the sign on this morning. No one abandoned after the time trial around Lake Annecy.

12:48:29 - Prize Classification Review: Part 01 – Yellow Jersey

The time trial around Lake Annecy provide Alberto Contador (AST) with the opportunity to increase his advantage over the field. The rider in the yellow jersey since the race to Verbier last Sunday claimed his stage victory in the 2009 Tour yesterday and moved ahead of Andy Schleck in the general classification. Contador now leads the younger Schleck brother from Saxo Bank by 4’11”.

Lance Armstrong (AST) finished 16th in the time trial but moved up the rankings to third overall, 5’25” behind his Spanish team-mate.

The 40.5km race yesterday cost Frank Schleck considerable time: he was third overall after his stage win in Le Grand Bornand but he’s now sixth, 5’59” behind Contador.

Bradley Wiggins (GRM) is fourth overall after 18 stages, just 11 seconds shy of Armstrong’s accumulated time.

12:49:08 - Prize Classification Review: Part 02 – Polka-Dot Jersey

There was a climb in the time trial around Lake Annecy. The rider who posted the fastest time between the 25km and 28.5km mark was Cadel Evans (SIL). He earned four points by being the fastest up the cote de Bluffy. The Australian is was 12th in the stage but is well out of the running for a good general classification result for the first time since he made his Tour debut in 2005.

Evans is 20th in the climbing classification that, unless he abandons, will be won by Franco Pellizotti (LIQ). The Italian has 196 points in the race for the polka-dot jersey. The rider ranked second is the former King of the Mountains, Egoi Martinez (EUS) with 118pts.

12:51:00 - Racing Begins At 12.54pm

The official start of the 19th stage was at 12.54pm.

12:55:36 - Roche Calls On Team Car

Nicolas Roche (ALM), the son of the 1987 Tour champion, has called for assistance from his team car in the first minute of racing today.

12:56:37 - One Rider Attacks

At the 500m mark of the 19th stage, one rider attacked the peloton. There was little reaction and we wait to see if he will succeed with his attempt to establish and escape.

12:57:23 - Hupond The Aggressor...

Thierry Hupond (SKS) is the rider currently at the front of the stage.

12:58:59 - Hupond Continues Alone...

At the 3km mark, there is still only one rider on the attack. Hupond attacked in the first kilometer. He is 40" ahead of Willems (LIQ) and Dumoulin (COF). The peloton is at 1'00".

13:01:00 - Peloton Reaction...

Hupond is now 25" ahead of Willems and 34" ahead of the peloton and it seems that the right selection for the escape has not yet been made... the bunch is reacting to the escapes and trying to find the right combination to allowed to break away.

13:03:32 - Climb At 6.5km

The first climb of the stages is the cat-4 cote de Culin (at 6.5km). The bunch is currently making its way up the 2.6km long ascent and is 20" behind Hupond who is 1km from the summit.

13:04:20 - Hupond Leads By 10"

Near the top of the cote de Culin, Hupond is 10" ahead of the peloton.

13:06:49 - Escape Over

Hupond has been reeled in by the bunch. His early escape bid amounted to naught.

13:07:24 - Result of Cote de Culin

At the 6.5km mark, the climbing points were won by:

1. Thierry Hupond (SKS) 3pts

2. David Loosli (LAM) 2pts

3. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 1pt

13:08:37 - Peloton Splits

The pace is on early today. The peloton has split and the yellow jersey is in the second group...

13:09:14 - 8km Raced...

The split in the bunch is almost void. The peloton is all together at the 8km mark.

13:09:56 - New Escape Bid At 9km

At the 9km mark another group of riders is attempting to escape the peloton.

13:11:02 - Prize Classification Review: Part 03 – Green Jersey

There is still a chance that Mark Cavendish (THR) can win the green jersey… but judging on the form of Thor Hushovd (CTT), and the Norwegian’s haul of points, it’s unlikely that the Brit will be able to steal the sprinters’ prize from the 2005 winner. Hushovd has 230 points; Cavendish 200. Next down the rankings in the points classification are José Joaquim Rojas (GCE – 126pts), Gerald Ciolek (MRM – 122pts), Tyler Farrar (GRM – 110pts) and the Irish champion Nicolas Roche (ALM – 100pts).

13:11:26 - 10 Men In New Escape

The move that began at the 9km mark includes 10 riders. They have a lead of about 10" at the 11km mark.

13:11:54 - Evans In The Escape

The runner-up in 2007 and 2008, Cadel Evans (SIL) is part of the escape group that's currently 10" ahead of the peloton.

13:12:29 - 10 Lead By 15"

There are two riders now attempting to bridge the gap to the 10 stage leaders - including Cadel Evans (SIL) - which has a lead of 15".

13:15:19 - The 11 Stage Leaders...

Evans (SIL), Popovych (AST), Millar (GRM), Kirchen (THR), Arrieta (ALM), Arroyo (GCE), Sanchez (GCE), Duque (COF), Spilak (LAM), Barredo (QST) and Lequatre (AGR) are the riders in the escape that is 20" ahead of the bunch at 15km.

13:17:22 - Evans The Best Placed Of Escape...

The 11 leaders are 25" ahead of the peloton that includes Evans, who is the best placed of the escapees on general classifcation after 18 stages. The Australian is ranked 29th after 2,950km of racing, 38'20" behind Contador.

13:19:04 - Liquigas Leading Peloton

The escape group of 11 is 20" ahead of the peloton that's being led by riders from the Liquigas team.

13:20:00 - Peloton Closing In On Leaders...

The 11 escapees are being reeled in by the peloton thanks to efforts from Katusha and Liquigas. The last time check had Evans' ahead by 17".

13:22:03 - Prize Classification Review: Part 04 – White Jersey

Twice in the history of the Tour de France’s youth classification, has the winner of the white jersey finished second overall. These instances were in 1996 and 1998 when Jan Ullrich was the runner-up to Bjarne Riis and Marco Pantani, respectively. The prize for the best young rider (which, this year, is open to those born after 1 January 1984) was first awarded in 1975 when Francesco Moser was the winner.

Andy Schleck is currently on track to repeat the efforts of Ullrich. The champion of Luxembourg is ranked second in the general classification but has a lead of 3’04” on Vincenzo Nibaly in the youth classification.

Schleck won the white jersey in his Tour debut last year. He finished 11th overall.

13:23:57 - Six Catch 11...

Six counter-attackers have caught the 11 stage leaders. Those who bridged the gap are: Roche (ALM), Bennati (LIQ), Gutierrez (GCE), Chavanel (QST), Vandenbergh (KAT) and Hivert (SKS).

13:25:49 - Junction At 18km

The six chasers caught the 11 stage leaders at the 18km mark.

13:26:07 - Bonnet Making A Bid

BBox's William Bonnet is now 8" behind the 17 stage leaders while the peloton is at 28".

13:26:38 - Trussov, Not Vandenbergh

The Katusha rider in the escape today is Trussov, not Vandenbergh as previously reported by Radio Tour.

13:27:47 - Trussov Goes Solo

Discontent with the pace of the escape, Nicolai Trussov (KAT) has attacked the lead group.

13:28:15 - And That, It Seems, Is The Selection!

Trussov has been caught after his brief solo bid. There are now 17 riders 25" ahead of Bonnet while the peloton appears to have decided that the selection today is a good one; it is now 1'05" behind Evans' escape group.

13:29:33 - The Escapees

At the 26km mark, the escape group has an advantage of 1'20". There are 20 men in the lead. They are: Evans (SIL), Popovych (AST), Millar (GRM), Perez Moreno (EUS), Kirchen (THR), Arrieta, Riblon and Roche (ALM), Bennati (LIQ), Arroyo, Gutierrez and Sanchez (GCE), Duque (COF), Spilak (LAM), Chavanel and Barredo (QST), Trussov and Vandenbergh (KAT), Lequatre (AGR) and Hivert (SKS).

13:31:48 - Bbox & Rabobank Lead Peloton

At the 28km mark, the Rabobank and Bbox teams are in pursuit of the 20 escapees who are now 1'20" ahead. The Dutch and French teams have no riders in the move that began to form at the 9km mark.

13:33:55 - Milram Joins Chase

Another team without a rider in the escape is Milram. It too has decided to try and chase down the 20 escapees.

13:35:36 - Prize Classification Review: Part 05 – Team Rankings

Alberto Contador won the time trial around Lake Annecy but Saxo Bank had three riders in the top 21 – Cancellara (2nd), Larsson (4th) and Andy Schleck (21st) – which was enough for the Danish-registered squad to win the team classification in stage 18. They were three seconds better than Astana’s three best riders.

The Kazakh-backed squad is, however, in the lead of the team rankings after 18 stages. The eight remaining Astana riders will wear yellow race numbers again today. The team leads Garmin-Slipstream by 16’14”, AG2R by 23’45” and last year’s winners Saxo Bank by 24’28”.

13:36:03 - Prize Classification Review: Part 06 – Fighting Spirit

In time trials there are no votes for the ‘Combative’ classification but Mikhail Ignatiev - a former winner of the Fighting Spirit award from this year’s Tour and the rider who has spent the most time in escapes during the 96th edition of the race – finished third in the stage in Annecy. The Russian must be a contender for the ‘Super Combative’ prize which is presented in Paris but the eight judges will make their decision during the stage to Paris on Sunday.

13:38:00 - Result Of 1st Intermediate Sprint

1. Leonardo Duque (COF) 6pts

2. Nicolas Roche (ALM) 4pts

3. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) 2pts

13:40:09 - Seven Of 20 Former Tour Stage Winners...

Of the group of 20 that's about to contest the intermediate sprint inLe Rival, seven have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.

- Cadel Evans (SIL) was retrospectively awarded the time trial win of stage 13 of the 2007 Tour (after the positive control of original winner Vinokourov).

- Kim Kirchen (THR) also received a retrospective victory (because of 'Vino') after finishing second to the Kazakh in Loudenvielle in 2007.

- Yaroslav Popovych (AST) won in Carcassonne in 2006.

- Luis Leon Sanchez (GCE) won in Aurillac in 2008 and St-Girons this year.

- David Millar (GRM) won in Futuroscope in 2000, Bezier in 2002 and Nantes in 2003.

- Daniele Bennati (LIQ) won in Castelsarrasin and Paris in 2007.

- Sylvain Chavanel (QST) won in Montlucon in 2008.

13:46:02 - Lead Drops To 1'00"

The maximum gain so far for the 20 escapees was 1'20" at the 27km mark. The peloton has not surrendered and riders from Rabobank, Milram and Bbox are still trying to reel in the Evans group which is 1'00" ahead at the 38.5km mark.

13:47:04 - Lead Down To 50"

The 'Lanterne Rouge' after 18 stage, Hutarovich (FDJ) has been dropped by the peloton that's now 50" behind the group of 20 escapees.

13:48:09 - Leaders At 2nd Climb

The second climb of the stage is the cote de la foret de Chambaran, a 3.1km long ascent with an average gradient of 6.4 percent. The leaders are currently one kilometer from the top which is at the 40.5km mark.

13:49:04 - Lefevre Attacks Peloton

One of the Bbox team has jumped ahead of the peloton which was 40" behind the 20 escapees.

13:50:10 - Lefevre Caught

The escape bid by Lefevre is over. The peloton is still trying to close the gap to the 20 leaders.

13:50:51 - Result Of 2nd Climb

The points for the second climb in stage 19 were won by:

1. Geoffroy Lequatre (AGR) 3pts

2. Nicolas Roche (ALM) 2pts

3. Leonardo Duque (COF) 1pt

13:54:19 - Astana Leading Peloton

At the top of the climb, the peloton was behind by 50". The Astana team has now come to the front of the bunch.

13:54:40 - Average Speed For First Hour

The leaders covered 44.7km in the first hour of racing today.

13:56:07 - Lead Grows To 1'15"

At the 45km mark, the peloton is 1'15" behind the 20 escapees. The Astana team appears to have nullified the quest of the Milram, Bbox and Rabobank teams to reel in the escape.

13:57:36 - Repeating The Names & Teams Of 20 Escapees

The men in the escape today include seven former stage winners. Here is the list of the group that began to form at the 9km mark.

- Cadel Evans (SIL)

- Yaroslav Popovych (AST)

- David Millar (GRM)

- Ruben Perez Moreno (EUS)

- Kim Kirchen (THR)

-Jose Luis Arrieta, Christophe Riblon and Nicolas Roche (ALM)

- Daniele Bennati (LIQ)

- David Arroyo, Jose Ivan Gutierrez and Luis Leon Sanchez (GCE)

- Leonardo Duque (COF)

- Simon Spilak (LAM)

- Sylvain Chavanel and Carlos Barredo (QST)

- Nicolai Trussov and Stijn Vandenbergh (KAT)

- Geoffroy Lequatre (AGR)

- Jonathan Hivert (SKS)

14:00:24 - How The Escape Formed...

There were early attacks but it wasn’t until the 9km mark that any real advantage was gained. By the 15km mark, 20 men were in the lead of the stage. They included seven former stage winners.

The group was composed of Evans (SIL), Popovych (AST), Millar (GRM), Perez Moreno (EUS), Kirchen (THR), Arrieta, Riblon and Roche (ALM), Bennati (LIQ), Arroyo, Gutierrez and Sanchez (GCE), Duque (COF), Spilak (LAM), Chavanel and Barredo (QST), Trussov and Vandenbergh (KAT), Lequatre (AGR) and Hivert (SKS).

At 27km they were 1’20” ahead but Milram, Bbox and Rabobank led the chase until the end of the first hour. The average speed was 44.7km/h. Then Astana moved to the front of the bunch and by 47km the advantage of the 20 escapees was 1’50”.

14:03:36 - Lead Up To 2'15"

At the 52km mark, the peloton is 2'15" behind the group of 20.

14:09:05 - LeTour.fr's Survey For Today...

The survey today on the official site of the Tour de France (LeTour.fr) asks:

Frank Schleck is six overall after the time trial. Is it still possible for him to make it to the podium?

Yes or no... let us know what do you think?

14:10:20 - Lead Stays At 2'15"

The Astana team is still at the front of the peloton that's 2'15" behind the 20 escapees.

14:11:17 - Rabobank Chasing 20

There are five riders from the Rabobank team at the front of the peloton now.

14:12:01 - Daisuke Imanaka: 46 Today

The second Japanese rider to start the Tour de France was Daisuke Imanaka. Born in Hiroshima 46 years ago today, Imanaka-san raced with the Polti team from 1994 to 1998. He was part of the line-up for the Tour in 1996 but abandoned before the race reached Paris. This year, there are two Japanese riders in the peloton; Fumiyuki Beppu (SKS) and Yukiya Arashiro (BBO) ranked 126th and 135th overall, respectively. If they make it to Paris, they will be the first Japanese riders to complete the Tour de France.

14:12:29 - 2'05" Advantage For 20

The Rabobank team has no rider in the escape group. It has five riders now leading the peloton that's 2'05" behind.

14:15:26 - Lead Back Up To 2'10"

The 20 escapees are working well together at the front of the 19th stage. They are now adding time to their advantage. With the bunch near the 65km mark, it is 2'10" behind.

14:20:28 - Two 'Fighting Spirit' Winners From This Year In Escape

Of the 20 escapees today, two have already received Brandt's 'Fighting Spirit' prize during the 2009 Tour. David Millar (GRM) was considered the most aggressive rider of the stage to Barcelona and Simon Spilak (LAM) earned the most votes after leading an escape group to the base of the Verbier climb in stage 15.

14:22:45 - Lead Up To 2'20"

Even though there are five Rabobankers swapping off at the front of the peloton, in an attempt to reel in the escape group of 20, the advantage has grown to 2'20".

14:23:58 - Lead Now 2'40"

Cadel Evans and his cohorts are pulling away from the peloton that's now 2'40" behind.

14:25:04 - Ferdi Kubler: 90 Today

The first Swiss rider to win the Tour de France was Ferdi Kubler in 1950. He celebrates his 90th birthday today. In the year he was born, 1919, the Tour de France had 15 stages but between each day of racing was a day of rest. On the day of Kubler’s birth, it was a rest day with two stages remaining in the Tour. The winner the next day – of the 468km stage from Metz to Dunkirk (which took 21h04’27”) – was Firmin Lambot who would take the first of his two overall victories. The yellow jersey was introduced to the Tour in 1919 and the champion took the lead from Eugene Christophe the day after Kubler’s birth.

14:27:19 - Comments From Silence-Lotto

“He was really keen to race again this morning,” said Hendrik Redant from the Silence-Lotto team of Cadel Evans, who is part of the 20-man escape group. “We had a meeting last night and we suggested that Jurgen van den Broeck take it easy today and try and save some energy for the stage to Ventoux. But Cadel really wanted to get part of the escape.

“At the moment we see Rabobank on the front and chasing but the lead is moving up to almost three minutes but I think the Dutchies are doing a little bit of ‘Penalty Training’ now because they don’t have any rider in the escape. I think the move will stay away all the way to the finish.”

And so who does the Belgian directeur sportif believe will win the stage? “Cadel Evans. Of course! I really believe in this guy.”

14:34:20 - Less Than 100km To Go

The Rabobank team is still at the front of the peloton that's 2'50" behind the 20-man escape group. The leaders are now less than 100km from the finish.

14:36:54 - Peloton At 83km

The peloton is just riding through the feedzone at the 83km mark. It is still being led by Rabobank and is still 2'50" behind the 20 escapees.

14:42:57 - Peloton Out Of Feedzone

At the 85km mark, the exit of the feedzone, the peloton is 2'45" behind Evans (SIL), Popovych (AST), Millar (GRM), Perez Moreno (EUS), Kirchen (THR), Arrieta, Riblon and Roche (ALM), Bennati (LIQ), Arroyo, Gutierrez and Sanchez (GCE), Duque (COF), Spilak (LAM), Chavanel and Barredo (QST), Trussov and Vandenbergh (KAT), Lequatre (AGR) and Hivert (SKS).

14:48:10 - 19 In Lead Group: Not 20

A little while ago, Nicolai Trussov (KAT) dropped out of the lead group. There are now 19 men in the lead of the stage. (Apologies for not explaining this earlier.)

14:51:44 - Seven Rabobankers Lead Peloton

There are seven riders from the Rabobank team at the head of the peloton. The maximum gain of the 19 escapees so far today was 2'50" (at the 83km mark). Evans is the best placed of the stage leaders, starting the 19th stage in 29th place. His group is now at the 92km mark with a lead of 2'40".

14:53:22 - Teams Absent From Escape

There are six teams not represented in the escape group of 19. Astana had assumed control of the pacesetting duties at the end of the first hour of racing but Rabobank has had five riders at the front ever since. The squad that are not in the escape today are:

- Cervelo TestTeam

- Saxo Bank

- Francaise des Jeux

- Bbox Bouygues Telecom

- Rabobank

- Milram

15:03:05 - Average Speed For Second Hour

The pace of the race in the second hour is even faster than the first one. The average speed is 48.6km/h; the average for the first two hours is 46.6km/h.

15:08:11 - Lead Down To 2'20"

Milram is now cooperating with Rabobank riders at the front of the peloton which is now 2'20" behind the 19 escapees.

15:13:17 - Comments From Cofidis Manager...

LeTour.fr recently spoke to the directeur sportif of the Cofidis team, Francis Van Londersele, about what he expects from today’s stage. “For now Rabobank is riding at the front of the peloton to keep the gap below three minutes,” said the Frenchman. “But normally the escape should gain a lot more time and then explode on the final climb, the col de l’Escrinet. This is where Leonardo [Duque] will be vigilant and, hopefully, jump into the right group. Among the 19 escapees, the danger comes from Luis Leon Sanchez who has the advantage of having two team-mates in the move (Gutierrez and Arroyo). However, if we know the qualities of Bennati in the sprint, I think we know that the final ascent will be a little too long for him to stay with the front group – otherwise he too would be a threat.”

15:15:33 - Maximum Lead: 2'50"

The Rabobank and Milram teams continue to chase the 19 escapees who are now less than two minutes ahead. The maximum gain of the escape was 2'50".

15:16:49 - Duque & Arrieta Attack Lead Group

There are now some attacks happening at the front of the stage. Duque (COF) and Arrieta (ALM) have opened up a good lead...

15:17:22 - Evans In Hot Pursuit

Evans (SIL) is now leading the 17 others back to the two riders who attacked the lead group.

15:17:58 - Temperature Up To 34

Sebastien Piquet who is the voice of Radio Tour has recently contacted LeTour.fr to explain that the thermometer in the number-2 car is 34 degrees Celsius.

15:20:03 - Lead Group Splits

There are now five men in the lead of the stage. They are: Duque (COF), Gutierrez (GCE), Arrieta (ALM), Millar (GRM) and Popovych (AST) are 15" ahead of 14 others.

15:21:22 - Peloton At 2'00"

At the 112km mark, the peloton was 2'00" behind the five stage leaders.

15:22:12 - Five Increase Their Lead

Evans and Roche are now stuck between the five stage leaders and the remnants of the escape group who are 24" behind Millar, Popovych, Gutierrez, Duque and Arrieta.

15:24:15 - 14 Together In First Chase Group

There has been a volley of attacks at the front of the race. The five are still ahead but now there are 14 men in the chase group that includes: Evans, Roche, Perez Moreno, Riblon, Kirchen, Sanchez, Arroyo, Spilak, Vandenbergh, Barredo, Chavanel, Lequatre and Hivert who are 30" behind Millar's quintet.

15:28:31 - Current Situation...

As the race arrives in the Ardeche department Millar, Popovych, Gutierrez, Arrieta and Duque are 30" ahead of Barredo and 38" ahead of the other escapees. There is about 56km to go in the stage. The peloton is 1'50" behind the five stage leaders.

15:30:20 - Five Lead By 40"

Millar's quintet leads the remnants of the escape group by 40".

15:31:35 - Five Lead By 50"

Millar, Duque, Popovych, Gutierrez and Arrieta are now 50" ahead of the other escapees. The Rabobank and Milram teams are still in control of the peloton and it seems that the 14 others will soon be caught by the bunch which is 1'33" behind the five stage leaders.

15:34:53 - Riblon Not Happy

One of the riders who is in the group that's now coming back to the peloton, Christophe Riblon (ALM) is expressing his discontent...

15:35:51 - Peloton At 1'30"

The peloton is closing in on the five leaders who are now just 1'30" ahead with 50km to race.

15:36:24 - A Stage For Freire Or Ciolek?

The Rabobank and Milram teams refuse to allow the escape to gain any time. They have been chasing the move all day long and it seems they have faith in their sprinters: Oscar Freire and Gerald Ciolek who have yet to win a stage this year although both have come close...

15:37:43 - 14 At 1'15"

Millar, Duque, Popovych, Gutierrez and Arrieta are now 1'15" ahead of the Evans group of 14 riders. The peloton is at 1'30".

15:38:29 - Five Ahead Of Peloton

The 14 riders who were part of the escape group that formed at the nine kilometer mark have been caught around the 131km mark. There are now just five at the front of the stage. They are: Millar, Duque, Popovych, Gutierrez and Arrieta.

15:39:39 - Capture At 128km

The 14 riders were caught at the 128km mark. This group was: Evans, Perez Moreno, Kirchen, Riblon, Roche, Bennati, Arroyo, Sanchez, Spilak, Barredo, Chavanel, Vandenbergh, Lequatre and Hivert.

15:40:55 - Five Lead By 1'25"

At the 130km mark, Millar, Duque, Popovych, Gutierrez and Arrieta are in the lead by 1'25".

15:41:52 - How the 19 Escapees Split...

At the 110km mark, Duque attacked the lead group. He was chased down by Millar, Popovych, Arrieta and Gutierrez and, despite a frantic pursuit by the others, the quintet forged ahead and led by 50” at the 120km mark (the peloton was at 1’50”). The 14 remnants of the escape group were caught by the Rabobank and Milram-led peloton at the 128km mark when the five were ahead by 1’25”.

15:44:43 - Escape Almost Over

The peloton has been chasing the escape all day long. Only 25 seconds separates Millar, Popovych, Duque, Gutierrez and Arrieta from the peloton!

15:51:03 - Escapees Concede

At the 138km mark, the five escapees are waving to the camera and essentially admitting that they accept their fate: they've lost their mojo after being on the attack for almost 130km...

15:51:58 - 1km To Second Intermediate Sprint

The leaders are in the final kilometer leading to the sprint in Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban. Their advantage on the peloton is just 15".

15:53:32 - Duque Darts Ahead For Six Points

Duque (COF) has thrown in one more surge to ensure he soaks up the six points for first place at the intermediate sprint.

15:54:03 - Result Of 2nd Intermediate Sprint

1. Leonardo Duque (COF) 6pts

2. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (GCE) 4pts

3. Jose Luis Arrieta (ALM) 2pts

15:54:55 - One Man Leads

Duque (COF) is the only rider in front of the peloton. The rest of the escapees have been caught at the 141km mark.

15:55:58 - Rapid Third Hour

The average speed for the third hour today is 48.7km/h! The average for the first three hours today is 47.3km/h.

15:56:23 - Duque Leads By 20"

At the 142km mark, Duque (COF) is in the front of the stage with a lead of 20".

15:56:51 - Details Of Last Climb

The col de l'Escrinet is 14km long at an average gradient of 4.1 percent. This is a cat-2 ascent with the top at the 162km mark.

15:58:47 - Kern Attacks At 145km

Duque is in the lead by just 10" and now his team-mate Christophe Kern has attacked the peloton.

16:00:44 - Kern Caught

As usual with the Kern escape attempts, it lasted about 38 seconds before being rendered void.

16:01:34 - Peloton All Together

Duque has been caught at the 146km mark. The peloton is all together.

16:02:24 - 30km To Go

The peloton is now 30km from the finish of the 19th stage. It is being led by the Rabobank and Lampre teams.

16:04:25 - Peloton Splits

There has been a split in the peloton that includes yesterday's runner-up Fabian Cancellara.

16:07:22 - Cervelo Lead Peloton

The Cervelo team has put a rider at the front of the peloton that is dropping plenty of riders as it passes through Privas (29km from the finish).

16:09:18 - Ballan Also Moving Forward

Garate (RAB) is at the front of the front of the peloton. Behind him is one of the older riders in the peloton, Inigo Cuesta (CTT) and the world champion Alessandro Ballan (LAM)...

16:12:12 - Lefevre Attacks

Lefevre (BBO) has attacked the peloton with 25.5km to go.

16:12:52 - Lefevre Leads By 8"

With 25km to go, Lefevre is 8" ahead of the peloton that's being paced by a rider from the Cervelo team.

16:13:24 - Lefevre Insists

Lefevre has been at the front for over two kilometers but his maximum gain was just eight seconds. The peloton has him within sight...

16:17:30 - Lefevre's Lead: 12"

Lefevre has 21km to go. He leads the peloton by 12". The stage leader is 5km from the top of the final climb.

16:19:47 - Ballan Attacks

With the lead of Lefevre down to eight seconds, Ballan (LAM) has attacked the peloton. The world champion has already caught the French stage leader...

16:21:06 - 20km To Go

Ballan and Lefevre are together at the front of the stage but the world champion has been setting the pace of the escape since he caught the Frenchman. They are now 10" ahead of the peloton and 20km from the finish.

16:22:31 - Two Lead By 18"

Lefevre and Ballan are 18" ahead of the peloton at the 20km mark. Rain has started to fall at the site of the finish... but the roads where the race is are still dry.

16:24:20 - Menchov Leads The Peloton

Menchov is at the front of the peloton for what could be the first time in the 2009 Tour de France. He is ahead of five or six riders from the Astana squad including the yellow jersey but the peloton's deficit remains 19" to Ballan and Lefevre.

16:25:46 - Andy Follows Alberto...

The GC leaders are all lined up at the front of the peloton with Andy Schleck following the wheel of Contador who follows the wheel of Armstrong.

Further back in the bunch, Hushovd has assumed position on the wheel of Cavendish...

16:27:29 - Ballan Doing The Most Work

Ballan and Lefevre remain at the front of the stage. The world champion has been doing the most work since attacking the bunch 4.5km from the top of the climb. The leaders are about to crest the final climb that is 16km from the finish of the 19th stage. They are 15" ahead of the peloton.

16:28:57 - Ballan Takes Double Points

Ballan has led Lefevre over the top of the final climb.

The result of the col de d;Escrubet is:

1. Ballan (LAM) 20pts

2. Lefevre (BBO) 18pts

3. Martinez (EUS) 16pts - at 10"

4. A. Schleck (SAX) 14pts

5. Wiggins (GRM) 12pts

6. Contador (AST) 10pts

16:31:34 - Sanchez Attacks Peloton

The descending specialist Luis Leon Sanchez has attacked the peloton that's 8" behind Ballan and Lefevre.

16:32:11 - Rain Falling

There is a bit of rain falling on the peloton as it makes its way down the final descent.

16:32:47 - Sanchez Closing In On Leaders

Sanchez is now 8" behind Ballan and Lefevre. The peloton is at 17".

16:33:19 - Three Columbia Leading Peloton

There are three riders from Columbia at the front of the peloton: Hincapie, Martin and Cavendish. They have caught the attack by Sanchez.

16:33:57 - Two Lead Peloton

Sanchez has been reeled in by the peloton and now Ballan and Lefevre are in the front of the stage by 10".

16:34:26 - 10km To Go

The two leaders are ahead by 12" with 10km to go.

16:34:55 - Duque Wins Fighting Spirit Award

Leonardo Duque (COF) has been voted the most aggressive rider of the 19th stage.

16:35:22 - Lefevre Takes A Turn...

Ballan has been leading the two-man escape since arriving at the front with 24km to go. Lefevre has just done a very brief turn but the world champion is back on the front...

16:36:09 - Milram & Columbia Lead Peloton

There are now three riders from the Milram team also setting the pace of the peloton along with the Columbia riders. The bunch is not gaining time on the two escapees who are now 15" ahead.

16:36:57 - Hushovd Tucked In Behind Cavendish

There peloton is 12" behind with 7km to go. Columbia and Milram continue to lead the bunch and right on the wheel of the quadruple stage winner (Cavendish) is the rider in the green jersey (Hushovd).

16:38:34 - Peloton Closing In

The bunch is now 10" behind Lefevre and Ballan. Milram and Columbia are in control of the pace setting but now we can see Freire (RAB) moving up near the business end of the bunch...

16:39:38 - 5km to Go

Ballan and Lefevre are being reeled in by a peloton of about 40 riders. The latest time check has the leading pair 8" ahead.

16:40:21 - 4km To Go

With 4km to go, the peloton is 10" behind. There is a Milram rider the front followed by four Columbia riders, followed by Hushovd.

16:41:06 - Ballan and Lefevre Holding On...!

The peloton is now being led by the Columbia team. There is less than 3km to go in the stage and it looks like the sprinters are going to have their way... there is just 100m between Ballan and Lefevre and the peloton.

16:42:24 - Sprinters Lining It Up...

The Columbia team is now in charge of the peloton. The escape bid by Ballan and Lefevre appears to be doomed with less than 2km to go.

16:43:06 - Escape Over

Ballan has surged again just as the peloton has caught Lefevre. But with one turn to go it looks like we could see a fifth victory for Cavendish... at least if the Columbia team has its way.

16:43:52 - 'Flamme Rouge'... Columbia In Control

There are two riders from Columbia at the front of the peloton with less than 1km to go. Hushovd is right on the wheel of Cavendish who has Martin ahead of him...

16:44:42 - A Fifth For Cavendish!

Cavendish has claimed his fifth stage this year. He was forced to sprint from a long way out but he held off all the other sprint specialists to take a fine victory on the eve of the Ventoux stage.

16:45:55 - The Top Five In Stage 19

The 19th stage was raced at a furious pace. It was a sprint all the way to Aubenas with an average speed in excess of 46km/h. And in the end, the sprint specialists got to fight it out for stage honors. The top five is:

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) THR - 178km in 3h50'35" (46.317km/h)

2. Thor Hushovd (NOR) CTT

3. Gerald Ciolek (GER) MRM

4. Greg van Avermaet (BEL) SIL

5. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB

16:49:23 - Armstrong Gains Time On Wiggins

Of the riders in the top 10 overall, only Armstrong (AST) has finished with the same time as Cavendish. After the first 12 riders crossed the line, there was a split and Wiggins, Andy Schleck and others have lost four seconds to the Texan. Contador finished 24th, four seconds behind Armstrong's group.