Arensman holds off favourites to win stage 19 as Onley cedes time in podium bid

BBC News

5 days ago

Update:
Date: 17:08 BST
Title: Until tomorrow...
Content: That's all from me today.
You can head over here to read the developing report on all the drama from stage 19.
We'll be back again tomorrow for the penultimate stage of this year's race.
That one is a rolling 184.2km route from Nantua which should favour
breakaway specialists as it snakes over the hills of the Jura towards
Pontarlier.
Catch you then!
Update:
Date: 17:05 BST
Title: Post
Content: "I feel absolutely destroyed," says Thymen Arensman.
"I can't believe it. Already to win one stage in the Tour was unbelievable from a breakaway, but now to do it against the GC group, against the strongest riders in the world, it feels like I'm dreaming.
"I don't know what I just did."
Update:
Date: 16:55 BST
Title: General classification standings
Content:
Update:
Date: 16:47 BST
Title: Post
Content: It was THAT close.
Jonas Vingegaard just went 100m too late to deny Thymen Arensman.
Update:
Date: 16:40 BST
Title: Stage 19 results
Content:
Update:
Date: 16:36 BST
Title: Post
Content: Florian Lipowitz finishes fourth to protect his podium place, followed 41 seconds later by Britain's Oscar Onley.
It has been a phenomenal effort from Onley, but after giving himself a shot at a top-three finish yesterday he just didn't have the legs to put Lipowitz under more pressure today.
He is nonetheless all but assured of a fourth-place finish - and what an incredible result that is for the 22-year-old.
Update:
Date: 16:35 BST
Title: Post
Content: Thymen Arensman is in tears. He can't believe he has held on for that!
Tadej Pogacar only had eyes for the yellow jersey and comes across the line with Jonas Vingegaard.
Update:
Date: 16:33 BST
Title: Arensman wins stage 19
Content: They left it too late!
Thymen Arensman holds his arms up in celebration and crosses the line just as Jonas Vingegaard swings round the final corner in pursuit.
Update:
Date: 16:32 BST
Title: Post
Content: 300m to go
It doesn't look as though Tadej Pogacar is going to go for it!
Thymen Arensman is closing in on victory!
Jonas Vingegaard goes...
Update:
Date: 16:32 BST
Title: Post
Content: 700m to go
Florian Lipowitz continues to lead the charge to the finish, with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard following behind.
Thymen Arensman is 700m from victory - but has just 10 seconds of his lead remaining!
Update:
Date: 16:30 BST
Title: Post
Content: 1km to go
Florian Lipowitz takes over at the front as he seeks to drive home his advantage to Oscar Onley, who can only watch as what would have been a remarkable podium finish disappears up the road ahead of him.
Thymen Arensman's lead falls to 12 seconds with one kilometre remaining.
This is going to be very, very close!
Update:
Date: 16:29 BST
Title: Onley drops back
Content: 2km to go
Oscar Onley loses the wheel of Florian Lipowitz, but recovers brilliantly to get back on and avoid serious damage.
Worrying moments for Onley as Tadej Pogacar begins to wind-up for a big finish.
He loses touch again, and this looks like it could be it for his podium hopes...
Update:
Date: 16:27 BST
Title: Post
Content: 2km to go
The riders are climbing at an average gradient of 8% on this section. Still Tadej Pogacar eats away at Thymen Arensman's lead as we await the big move from this main group of four.
Update:
Date: 16:26 BST
Title: Post
Content: 3km to go
Just 22 seconds. That is the time gap Oscar Onley needs to find to catch Florian Lipowitz in the final podium place.
This is the place to do it. No move just yet as we enter the final three kilometres.
Update:
Date: 16:22 BST
Title: Post
Content: 5km to go
Into the final 5km of the final mountain stage of this year's race!
Thymen Arensman is rocking from side to side as his lead comes down further, now little over 20 seconds as Tadej Pogacar continues to chip away in pursuit of the stage win.
The top four general classification riders remain locked together, with Florian Lipowitz sticking to Oscar Onley's back wheel.
Update:
Date: 16:19 BST
Title: Post
Content: 6km to go
Thymen Arensman's lead drops below 30 seconds following that effort from Tadej Pogacar.
The Dutchman is working hard at the front of the race to try and protect his lead for as long as possible, but the odds are very much against him here.
Update:
Date: 16:16 BST
Title: Onley follows Pogacar and Vingegaard
Content: 7km to go
Tadej Pogacar goes again. Jonas Vingegaard follows. And so does Britain's Oscar Onley!
No immediate response from Florian Lipowitz, but he manages to latch back on to this group of four.
The top four in this year's general classification. What a finish this is set up to be.
Update:
Date: 16:14 BST
Title: Post
Content: 8km to go
Tadej Pogacar is on the front of the main group, still featuring many of the general classification top-10, but still more than 30 seconds behind Thymen Arensman.
Update:
Date: 16:08 BST
Title: Post
Content: 10km to go
Florian Lipowitz continues to closely follow Oscar Onley up the climb.
When will Onley decide to try and test his podium rival? He'll be wary of going to soon and risking blowing up with 10km still to go.
Primoz Roglic is done, now more than four minutes down on the peloton, so there is no concern for Onley in terms of fourth place. Little to lose, everything to gain...
Update:
Date: 16:06 BST
Title: Post
Content: 11km to go
Thymen Arensman has an advantage of around 30 seconds now, as Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar are caught by the main group.
If Vingegaard and Pogacar want this stage, they're going to want to go again very soon with Arensman looking strong here.