That is all from me, thanks for reading. You can read our stage 13 report right here:
Chris Froome: “I think it’s an important message, definitely a time for people to stand together. I was happy with how today went but really everyone’s thoughts here are with the people of Nice.”
There is no formal presentation or celebration, in light of the attack in Nice yesterday. Instead the jersey-wearers stand on the podium and observe a minute’s silence.
Updated
General classification – top 10
Chris Froome (Sky) 58hr 02min 51sec
Bauke Mollema (Trek-Seg) +1.47
Adam Yates (Orica) +2.45
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +2.59
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +3.17
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) +3.19
Romain Bardet (AG2R) +4.04
Richie Porte (BMC) +4.27
Dan Martin (Etixx) 5.o3
Fabio Aru (Astana) 5.16
Adam Yates finished 18th in the stage, he and Froome bumping Quintana down to 20th. Yates has doubled his overall advantage over the Colombian to 14secs but has fallen behind Bauke Mollema who moves second overall. Chris Froome has extended his advantage at the top of the general classification to 1min 47sec. Even with eight stages still to go, his performances suggest the yellow jersey is his to lose.
Tom Dumoulin speaks following his comprehensive victory, echoing the words he said earlier, immediately after his ride. He adds: “Of course I’m happy with the win. At the same time my thoughts are with everyone involved in the horrific attack in Nice.”
Stage 13 – top five
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alp) 50min 15sec
Chris Froome (Sky) 51.18
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51.46
Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Tom Dumoulin wins stage 13!
Froome finishes in second place with a time of 51.18 to make two minutes on Quintana, a massive gain. Brilliant by Froome, bettered only by one man: Tom Dumoulin.
Updated
Chris Froome is not far behind...
Quintana finished a provisional 18th in the time trial itself, by the way. The outstanding Adam Yates is the penultimate rider home. Fans slam on the advertising boards as he hits the line. He’s beaten Quintana, albeit only by a few seconds.
Nairo Quintana chugs in. Even his perpetually steadfast expression is replaced by a broken grimace. A reasonable performance leaves him 3min 7sec down on Dumoulin, but that is going to be a couple of minutes lost to Froome – and it might be a significant chunk of time lost to Adam Yates, too.
Froome is taking a cautiously wide berth of the fans in the road today. He hasn’t brought his running shoes. This is a very impressive performance by the Team Sky man. He is not going to win the stage, but he is tightening his grip on the yellow jersey.
Romain Bardet comes home and he looks utterly bereft of energy. He breaks into a grin as he crosses the line. Bardet finishes 25th, 3min 52sec from Dumoulin whose time is starting to look ridiculously good.
@LawrenceOstlere are we not playing #namethebreakaway today ? pourqoui ?
— neil (@papashrimp) July 15, 2016
At this rate, Froome will be more than two minutes clear at the top of the general classification tonight.
Chris Froome hits the third checkpoint and he is 42sec down on the leading mark. This stage is surely Tom Dumoulin’s now, but Froome is making significant time on his rivals.
Joaquim Rodriguez says the wind was impossible to control for the small riders getting pushed around. Next in is Tejay Van Garderen who takes a provisional 13th place, at 2min 50sec from Dumoulin.
It is not a good stage for Fabio Aru. The Astana rider stands out of his seat to fire himself through to the line but he has lost a serious chunk of time. He finishes 4min 25sec down from Dumoulin’s mark, roughly the same time as Joaquim Rodriguez and Dan Martin. The top of the GC is starting to splinter.
A pretty sullen Richie Porte: “I couldn’t really hear anything on the radio. It was so windy out there you’re not really sure of your times. It hurt like hell to be honest. Yesterday with the motorbike doesn’t really help much either.”
Adam Yates hits the midway point 21st, 1min 30sec behind Dumoulin but crucially gaining time over Nairo Quintana. This is a heroic effort from Yates.
@LawrenceOstlere "Hopefully Froome can beat him but it will be a tall ask I think." (G.Thomas) - Shouldn't it be "Chris" or "Froomey"?
— christian cummins (@chrisccummins) July 15, 2016
“French tv says there are very strong gusts of wind,” emails Bryan Slater. “Is that a threat for Froomy?” I suppose it is the same for everyone out there at the moment.
Richie Porte eventually faded after a rapid start to the time trial, finishing a provisional eighth with a time of 53.23.
Chris Froome is 17sec down on Dumoulin at the first split. Perhaps more importantly to the yellow-jersey holder, he is 33sec ahead of Quintana.
Top five
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alp) 50min 15sec
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51.46
Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Geraint Thomas (Sky) 52.15
Geraint Thomas is asked if Chris Froome can overhaul Tom Dumoulin’s brilliant time: “I hope so. It’s a tough ask because obviously Tom’s been targeting today. Hopefully Froome can beat him but it will be a tall ask I think. The main thing for me was trying to get it all out and pace it well. It’s always tough. You’re on the radio and they tell you you’re down and you’re thinking ‘is it really worth it?’.”
Dan Martin is 3min and 3sec down on Tom Dumoulin’s mark at the third checkpoint. This could be significant GC time lost for the Irish rider.
There was video earlier of Richie Porte apparently having something thrown at him while on the bike, although the footage was inconclusive. Ben Brangwyn emails with more: “Yes, I have forensically examined the video, and here’s my CSI summary. There’s a guy in green on the left quite far out into the road towards the end of the vid. It’s not him, it’s the person two positions further on from him in a pale green top. You can see the arm movement and the trajectory of the object matches it. My ballistics colleagues concur. Science!”
Romain Bardet almost loses balance in the crosswind as makes his way across the high plateau in the mid-section of this stage. The French rider quickly regains control of his handlebars but it shows just how tricky conditions are.
@LawrenceOstlere They should introduce a Combativity jersey to Le Tour, if only for the prospect of having Tom Dumoulin Rouge
— P T (@Trantorial) July 15, 2016
Having been overtaken by Thomas, Pierre Rolland rolls in a few moments later well down the leaderboard in 56.11.
Why did Geraint Thomas put in so much effort in a time trial?
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) July 15, 2016
Thomas looks totally beaten as he reaches the line, mouth agape, and it’s an impressive shift by the Welshman. He slots into fifth overall with a time of 52.14.
Geraint Thomas is approaching the final ascent of this 38km stage. He clocked in fourth place at the third checkpoint 28km into the route.
“I’m sure you get this question all the time, but what does the bloke in the start booth say? ponders Alan Cooper. “It sounds like ‘cinq, quatre, trois, deux, un, Stop!’ (And that precise finger work must take months of training!).” If he is saying ‘stop’ each time then it can only be because he finds it a hilarious joke.
Chris Froome takes a deep breath. He looks pretty nervous on the start ramp. He gets the five-four-three-two-one treatment from the start-man’s fingers, and he’s away!
Updated
What a brilliant Tour Adam Yates is having. The 23-year-old from Bury is second overall with the chance to go for the podium in Paris, and on course to win the young rider classification by some margin. His time trial is under way.
Up ahead of Quintana, Richie Porte hits the first checkpoint at the top of the opening climb and he is the second fastest of all the riders so far – only Tom Dumoulin has been quicker (10sec). This would not surprise me:
@LawrenceOstlere If Froome smashes Dumoulin's time, do you think the calls for power data will start up again?
— Paul Graham (@svenadultbooks) July 15, 2016
Three riders to go, and the first of them is Movistar’s little Colombian with incredible endurance, Nairo Quintana.
Geraint Thomas is timed around 1min 28sec down on Tom Dumoulin at the halfway stage.
Bauke Mollema takes to the ramp. The Dutch rider comes into this stage only 56sec behind Froome overall after the crash which took out both of them on Ventoux yesterday.
Top five
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alp) 50min 15sec
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51.46
Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Jon Izaguirre (Movistar) 52.17
Tejay van Garderen hits the road and he is followed by Alejandro Valverde, which leaves only five riders: Bardet, Mollema, Quintana, Yates and Froome.
IAM’s Stef Clement is bringing it home with a grimace and he looks as if he will grab a top ten spot... he does just that, finishing a provisional seventh just ahead of Steve Cummings with a time of 52.57. “I see Chris Froome has already started to train for his new career,” emails Peter Redahan, “which he intends taking up after he retires from the world of professional cycling. Clearly, he want to become a professional Triathelite. He’s got the cycling and running part sorted. He just needs to focus more on the swimming aspect.”
The camera zooms in on Chris Froome. The Sky rider is clad neck to knee in yellow working on the warm-up bike. If anyone will beat Tom Dumoulin to this stage victory, it is surely Froome.
Richie Porte digs in, hunched low over his bars. He shifts across to one side of the road and then the other as all the riders have done so far today as they try to deal with the brutal crosswinds. Next down the ramp: Astana’s number one man, Fabio Aru.
“Quick question,” hurries Shaun Rowark. “Anyone caught another rider up?” Plenty of riders have been overtaken as the time gaps between starts are only two minutes (three minutes between the top 20), and some riders are more than 11 minutes off the pace. Some have presumably been overtaken by two or three riders, which must be demoralising.
Geraint Thomas has clocked in fifth with his opening split at the top of the initial climb, 18sec behind Tom Dumoulin. Next down the ramp: the second-oldest man on the Tour, Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez.
Richie Porte waits at the top of the start ramp. He stares straight ahead as the besuited start-man counts down on his fingers in front of Porte’s eyes. How primitive. The Australian is away.
Vincenzo Nibali puts himself in provisional 14th with a time of 53.44. A pretty good run by the Astana rider, though he puffs out his cheeks and looks a touch fed up.
Sky’s Sergio Henao is the latest to be let loose on the streets at Bourg-Saint-Andéol. 15 riders to come.
And here are the top 11 general classification riders and their start times:
3.09pm BST Richie Porte (Aus) BMC
3.12 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha
3.15 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep
3.18 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
3.21 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC
3.24 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar
3.27 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
3.30 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
3.33 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar
3.36 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange
3.39 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky
Updated
Right then, we are in to the final 20 riders. Here is the top five as they stand:
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alp) 50min 15sec
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51.46
Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Jon Izaguirre (Movistar) 52.17
Geraint Thomas is on the route, and home favourite Warren Barguil is the latest to roll down the ramp. Don Otter asks: “Are the riders in the time trial allowed to have radio contact with their teams, or is it just man against time against his inner demons...” Race radios are allowed throughout the Tour, so riders will have someone in the ear to tell them how they are getting on.
@LawrenceOstlere Thinking about how y’day could have been more farcical - a spectator lending Froome a bike would have been interesting
— Dan Claydon (@danatello) July 15, 2016
Tom Dumoulin is asked how he feels after leading the way in the time trial: “Happy and sad. This morning I woke with terrible news from Nice. It was a big question if it would continue today or not. I think it is good we ask ourselves the question, and I think the decision is good. These terrorists cannot decide our lives. It’s good that we showed that we don’t to say yes to these attacks. Eventually sport is less important, but the decision was made and I was fully focussed on the TT. I think Froome is a serious contender still. We just have to see what he does.”
IAM’s Stef Clement is running well, timed third on his first split, 15sec down on Dumoulin’s time. “Can you tell me (and the world) why yesterday’s crash didn’t fall into the 3 km rule?” asks Marcus Kuhl. “Was it because it was a summit finish?” Spot on. The rule doesn’t apply to summit finishes though it can be applied in exceptional circumstances. Froome legging it up Mont Ventoux was certainly exceptional.
Jeannine Fleegle emails: “Commenting on the Richard Williams article: The race and riders should always come before spectators. But until large sponsors decide to throw down the gauntlet and threaten to pull out, this will not happen. As with all things in life, money talks and until it says ‘enough,’ incidents like we saw on stage 12 will continue.”
Tom Dumoulin leads the time trial!
And the Giant-Alpecin rider does it in style, tearing up Nelson Oliveira’s time with 1min 31sec to spare to set a new mark of 50.15. A brilliant ride by Dumoulin.
Updated
Dumoulin is flying! He’s just cruised through the 28km checkpoint 56 seconds ahead of where Oliviera was at that point. Well on course to make this stage his own.
Lawrence is back from lunch, so my work here is done. See ya! And thanks Giles! I normally get Glenn Close so at least you’re on the right gender.
@michaelbutler18 Time Trial is perfect stage for following surreptitiously at work. #youlooklikeRitchiefromFive
— Giles Cudmore (@Cuddy75) July 15, 2016
Updated
Eurosport have been analysing the time trial bike for Team Sky, who have made two big changes to their bike this year. Improving the aerodynamics around the handlebars and on the paintwork, which is estimated to save about 400g in total. There is also a cover over the rear brakes, which is designed to streamline the air flow.
It weighs 7.6kg! That’s a good kilo lighter than other bikes out on the course today.
Updated
Richard Williams has had his say on yesterday’s events, which you can read here.
This is the top five then, as it stands. But you can bet your bottom Euro that this will change in a jiffy.
1) Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51min 46sec
2) Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
3) Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
4) Jon Izaguirre (Movistar) 52.17
5) Tony Martin (Etixx) 52.50
Hello world. Do send me your thoughts whilst Lawrence is away: michael.butler@theguardian.com or @michaelbutler18.
Dumoulin has come out of the blocks like a rocket, and the uphill conditions further along should suit him. Tony Martin, who have away 34 seconds to Oliviera, is looking absolutely cream crackered, and seems at a loss to explain why he was off the pace today. “I was very tired from yesterday. Dumoulin is a big favourite today”, he says between breaths.
I am going to take a breather and leave you in the very capable hands of Michael Butler for a while. See you in a bit.
All eyes now on Tom Dumoulin. The Dutch time trial champion is 10sec ahead of Oliveira at the first checkpoint. A reminder that Chris Froome will be last to go at 3.39pm BST.
Tony Martin finishes provisional fifth
The German rider pumps from his hunched stance all the way to the line but he can’t make an impression on the very top of the leaderboard, and finishes in 52.50, 33sec down on Oliveira.
“What sort of time gaps do you expect we’ll see between the GC contenders today?” emails Tom Cuff. “I’m sure Froome will be looking for a decent gap to Quintana who looked pretty tired yesterday.” If Froome feels fresh he could reasonably pull out a minute or more over Quintana on this route.
Tony Martin is 2km from home. Niall Brooks emails with a nudge to the video below: “Have you seen the footage of Quintana hanging onto a Motorbike yesterday? It’s in the Belgium press but seemingly not picked up in Britain yet. Possible DQ?”
@georgesquirino @chrisfroome @L_Jalabert @RMCsport Quintana on le disqualifie pas pour ca ? pic.twitter.com/o9ez7KAU7A
— kevin (@assekevin) July 14, 2016
Jan Bakelants rolls down the start ramp, and he’s followed by Greg Van Avermaet. Next up: Van Avermaet’s fellow Belgian rider and winner upon Mont Ventoux yesterday, Thomas De Gendt.
“Afraid I disagree with Matt Cast, emails Selena Class. “We need to show fanatics that we will carry on with our lives regardless of what they do. The Tour de France is an iconic part of the French character, plus we need positive things to take our minds off the horror.”
Martin’s third split puts him fourth, 25sec down on Oliveira. He will need plenty left in the tank to beat the Portuguese – but Martin does like to leave it late.
Tony Martin approaches the third checkpoint as Tom Dumoulin begins his charge from the start gate. Will the winner of stage 13 be one of these two?
Top five (80 riders yet to start)
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51min 46sec
Jérôme Coppel (IAM) 51.50
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Jon Izaguirre (Movistar) 52.17
Steve Cummings (Di Data) 52.39
Updated
“Did Simon Gerrans finish the stage yesterday and then pull out today?” asks Robin Hazlehurst. “I mean, did he climb (most of) Mont Ventoux with a broken collarbone? That must have been a little uncomfortable you’d think.” He did, and it must have been:
That's the end of my #tdf2016 I can't find words to describe how disappointed I am. pic.twitter.com/DgsyxHRYpT
— Simon Gerrans (@simongerrans) July 14, 2016
Tony Martin remains sixth at midway checkpoint, but he’s cut his gap from the leader, Nelson Oliveira, down to 30sec.
The pips beep away and Rui Costa hits the sun-drenched road lined with fans and flags. It is well protected by the buildings of Bourg-Saint-Andéol but he will be hit by nasty crosswinds pretty quickly on the initial 8km climb.
Tony Martin clocks in at sixth place at the first checkpoint, 34sec down on Oliveira. Plenty to do if the Etixx Quickstep rider is to win this time trial. Here’s another to watch later on...
#TDF2016 The Dutch champion is warming up now. @tom_dumoulin starts at 14:47. pic.twitter.com/vqvnuqoTXX
— Team Giant-Alpecin (@GiantAlpecin) July 15, 2016
“What about Vasil Kiryienka current world champion,” emails Shaun Rowark. I don’t know if Kiryienka had a problem with illness or injury, but the Team Sky rider didn’t get it together at all today. He’s currently down in 52nd place. I’m sure we will find out more from him or Dave Brailsford at the end of the stage.
Tony Martin is closing in on the first checkpoint. It will be interesting to see how hard he has attacked the opening 8km uphill drag. Here is the German’s time trial win on the Tour two years ago:
“RE the domestiques saving their energy so that they can help their teams later in the stage,” emails Joe Harris. “Is there any rules about them cycling slowly in a TT so that their team leader can catch them up and they can subsequently pace them/work as a team? i.e. Valverde and Quintana or Porte and Van Garden later?” There are, and any slipstreaming is very much against the rules.
@LawrenceOstlere Alex Hayes has a point but would he agree (as I do) that it's okay for tennis players to tank a set if ahead 7-5, 7-6, 1-4?
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 15, 2016
Three-time world time trial champion Tony Martin has begun his ride. He will have his eye on the very top of the leaderboard.
The wind is up in the Ardèche and it is making things tough along the high plateau in the mid-part of this 38km stage. Izagirre has just completed that section, passing the second time split in fifth place.
Christian Prudhomme spoke this morning about the decision to race, despite the terrible events in Nice last night. Matt Cast emails: “Living in France and as a huge cycling fan, I simply cannot believe that this stage is going ahead. I find that decision utterly, utterly astonishing.”
Updated
The younger of Movistar’s Izagirre brothers, Jon, has began well and was only three seconds behind the new leader Jérôme Coppel at the first checkpoint.
Jérôme Coppel misses lead by four seconds!
Coppel pumps all the way to the line but is just short of Nelson Oliveira’s 51.46. The French rider Coppel, who finished third in the time trial of last year’s world championships, has to settle for provisional second place.
Coppel was 14sec down on Oliveira at the first checkpoint, 12sec down at the second, and 2sec ahead at the third. Might this be a perfectly measured ride?
“Re Simon Thomas’s comment about ‘triers’,” emails Alex Hayes. “Not really sure what Simon’s on about, the domestiques are elite sportsmen but they’re also paid professionals that have a job to do for their team. It wouldn’t really help anyone busting a gut on a time trial they’ve little chance of winning and compromising their ability to work hard for the team in future stages when it really matters.”
Czech rider Jan Barta moves into provisional fourth, but the big news is behind him where Jérôme Coppel is going to go very close to setting the leading time. He was two seconds clear of Oliveira at the third and final checkpoint.
A few names to look out for later on in the stage, and their start times. Tom Dumoulin is many people’s favourite while Tony Martin is an excellent time trialist:
Tony Martin (Etixx) 1.09pm BST
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) 1.47pm BST
Richie Porte (BMC) 3.09pm BST
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) 3.33pm BST
Adam Yates (Orica) 3.36pm BST
Chris Froome (Sky) 3.39pm BST
Updated
Home favourite Tony Gallopin begins his time trial as his compatriot Jérôme Coppel passes halfway. Coppel, the 2015 French time trial champion, was third at the midpoint, 21sec behind Oliveira.
“It’s a shame that Alex Dowsett is not riding today,” rues Paul Griffin. “I think he could have obliterated this course, and, after given Britain some much-needed Tour joy. Aside from 1st and 2nd on GC; Yates’ emergence as best young rider; Cav getting his swagger back; Daniel McLay’s arrival in prime time; Steve Cumming’s swashbuckling smash and grab; and Chris Froome’s emergence as a promising biathlete, it’s been a total shambles.”
@LawrenceOstlere Disappointing news of Pinot, but it does mean he can now produce 50% more Thrilling Heroics next year.
— MaliciousA (@MaliciousA) July 15, 2016
Boasson Hagen gets his sprint on to move provisionally fifth overall, 1min 3sec down on Oliveira’s leading time.
Daniel Teklehaimanot is under way on this time trial and he is followed by Peter Sagan. Two riders who could have not much more contrasting styles and skillsets.
70 riders have completed the ITT - Oliveira still in the lead with 10" over Dennis. #TDFdata #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/YN8A6ZXOq7
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 15, 2016
Boasson Hagen nearing the finish and looking good to break into the top five...
Updated
This is Cancellara’s last Tour and the time trial specialist has made his mark this morning, breaking into the provisional top five.
Tough gig MBMing an ITT @LawrenceOstlere. Still Cancellara always looks fantastic in them. We'll miss him next year.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 15, 2016
When Cancellara completed a stage with a broken back:
There are 95 riders still to start; coming up shortly on the start gate is Peter Sagan. Edvald Boasson Hagen has just passed through the third checkpoint where he was third fastest, 45sec down on Oliveira’s pace.
Updated
Top five
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) 51min 46sec
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51.56
Steve Cummings (Di Data) 52.39
Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff) 52.47
Fabio Cancellara (Trek-Seg) 53.30
Nelson Oliveira takes provisional lead!
The Movistar rider cut it fine but nudges ahead of Rohan Dennis’s mark by ten seconds to set a new fastest time of 51min 46sec.
“What I find interesting about the Time Trial at this stage of the race is that, contrary to what I had previously thought, about two thirds of the entrants aren’t really triers,” emails Simon Thomas. “I had imagined that everyone is busting a gut to win, being professional sportsmen and all, but for the domestiques this is in fact a rest day in all but name.”
Edward Theuns has abandoned the Tour:
Unfortunately Edward Theuns was involved in a crash. He's being taken to the hospital now. We will keep you updated. #TDF2016
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) July 15, 2016
Another notable name, Fabian Cancellara, hits the line and he’s fourth overall (53.50). Oliveira is nearing the finish...
Updated
Movistar’s Nelson Oliveira has gone quickest through the third and final checkpoint, with 21secs to spare.
A reminder that the time trial runs in reverse order, meaning Chris Froome will be last on the road (scheduled for 3.39pm BST). However there are handful of big names trying to make their mark right now. Among them is Dimension Data’s Edvald Boasson Hagen, seven-time winner of the Norwegian time trial championships. He was second at the first checkpoint, which marks the top of the long opening climb. Tommy Voeckler has also made a start.
Back down the road, Nelson Oliveira has descended to the final part of the stage along the Ardèche river before finishing in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. The Movistar rider was just 9sec behind Cummings at the halfway point.
Steve Cummings goes second
The Dimension Data rider maintains his pace through the final sector to finish with 52.43, and that’s enough to go second overall – for now.
Steve Cummings rode hard out of the start gate, attacking the opening 8km climb which makes the route for this time trial so draining from the off. However he has fallen away a little and by the third checkpoint he was 29secs behind Dennis’s leading time.
Top five
Rohan Dennis (BMC) 51min 56sec
Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff) 52.47
Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) 54.37
Vegard Breen (Fortuneo) 55.26
Michael Albasini (Orica) 55.42
That lead is already in jeopardy, however; there are three checkpoints along the route and Britain’s Steve Cummings, the winner of stage seven, was 22secs up on Dennis at the second checkpoint, roughly halfway through the stage.
Rohan Dennis leads the way
Of the 188 riders still in the Tour, 43 have already completed the time trial and the fastest of the lot is Rohan Dennis, the Australian who has set a marker of 51mins 56secs to beat.
Updated
Thibaut Pinot abandons the 2016 Tour de France
Pinot was supposed to wear the French champion jersey for the time trial but has instead withdrawn from the Tour after suffering with bronchitis. The Australian Simon Gerrans has also pulled out after breaking his collarbone in a crash yesterday.
Afterwards Richie Porte, who was also caught up in the incident, hit out at the “out-of-control” spectators. You can read more on the “accident waiting to happen” from our man on the ground, William Fotheringham:
Before we catch up on stage 13, a reminder of yesterday’s drama which finished in farce with Chris Froome running up Mont Ventoux. That sight will go down in Tour de France folklore but in the end it rightly had little effect on the overall standings, and Froome comes into today’s time trial with 47secs over Adam Yates and 54secs on Nairo Quintana.
Updated
Stage 13 profile
The stage began this morning in reverse order with the Irish rider Sam Bennett, last in the overall standings, and will finish with first-placed Chris Froome, who is scheduled to begin the 38km at 3.39pm BST.
Prudhomme said this morning: “Today, we want to pay homage to the victims with dignity. We have been asking ourselves if the race should continue and after consulting with authorities we have decided that it should. The Tour de France will continue in a subdued and solemn manner.”
Stage 13
The race director Christian Prudhomme confirmed this morning that today’s racing would go ahead under a cloud after the terrible news from Nice, 200km south east from Bourg-St-Andéo where stage 13 has begun.
After the chaos on Ventoux comes the order and calm of an individual time trial – though it offers little respite for the riders. Here is what you need to know, courtesy of our stage-by-stage guide:
Two weeks is a long time to wait for the first individual time trial and this looks gruesome. It’s liable to be warm and the roads are not appealing: a 6km climb for starters, a long run on a plateau – let’s hope the Mistral is in its box for the day – before a descent and a final 3km climb. The organisers have tried to replicate the time trial in Rio, and this could turn into a dress rehearsal for Froome or Tom Dumoulin.
Updated
