Tour de France 2019: Egan Bernal leads after hailstorm stops stage 19
- From the section Cycling
Egan Bernal moved into the overall Tour de France race lead after a hailstorm 30km from the finish of stage 19 in the Alps left the road impassable.
Colombian Bernal had broken clear of the group of favourites, including Ineos team-mate and defending champion Geraint Thomas on the day's last climb.
Overnight leader Julian Alaphilippe was among those left behind.
The stage win was awarded to Bernal with time distances being calculated at the top of the Col de l'Iseran.
Bernal, who started the day 90 seconds behind Alaphilippe, had an advantage of around two minutes over the Frenchman when they reached the summit of the l'Iseran, which at 2,770m is the highest point in this year's race.
Thomas, who had attacked 6km from the summit, reached the top around one minute clear of Alaphilippe - he had started stage 19, 95 seconds adrift.
However, as the riders raced down the mountain to Val d'Isere in preparation for what should have been the final climb of the day to Tignes, television pictures showed snow ploughs trying to clear the road and race officials made the decision to halt the stage.
More to follow.
