[100] In an effort to animate racing in the general classification, time bonuses of 8, 5, and 2 seconds respectively were also awarded for the first three riders across a mountain summit, given out on eight climbs. [72], The tenth stage was on relatively flat terrain. The three French and one Belgian teams had each participated in the race before. [99] Time bonuses (time subtracted) were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the time trial stages. [86], As the Tour came down from the Pyrenees for transitional stages towards the Alps, it experienced the beginning of the July 2019 European heat wave, which saw temperatures reach a high of 35 °C (95 °F) during stage 16. With 1 km (0.62 mi) remaining, Thomas got detached from the lead group containing Alaphilippe, Emanuel Buchmann, Pinot, Bernal, Landa and Steven Kruijswijk. However, Politt and Co. continued to hold on to a lead of 20 seconds.

The trio descended to the finish at Bagnères-de-Bigorre, where Yates won the sprint. A total of 176 riders from 22 teams participated in the race. The Souvenir Jacques Goddet, given to the first rider to pass Goddet's memorial at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet in stage 14, and the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, given to the first rider to pass the summit of the highest climb in the Tour, the Col de l'Iseran on stage 19. Then, the Banesto bank took over from the Reynolds aluminium company and Miguel Indurain filled Delgado's shoes. [107] The winner wore a red number bib for the following stage. The number of stage victories and placings per team would have determined the outcome of a tie. Greg van Avermaet made his move, while riders from Mitchelton-Scott and Deceuninck made their respective attacks on the front. [21] Bernal made his Tour debut in 2018 riding as a domestique (leader's assistant) for Froome and Thomas, who are ten years his senior. [47] It was among five hors catégorie (beyond category) rated climbs in the race. He lost the yellow jersey after the sixth stage to Giulio Ciccone (Trek–Segafredo) who was the highest placed rider of a breakaway group that finished ahead of the peloton (main group). After the second rest day, the Tour took a long transfer east for stage 16, finishing in Nîmes. It also marked 100 years since the race leader's yellow jersey was first seen at a Tour. ⚡️ Jeeze, check out that speed from Caleb Ewan! [45] Further details of the Grand Départ were revealed on 16 January 2018: the opening stage that featured the Muur van Geraardsbergen climb, an iconic steep cobbled climb of the Tour of Flanders "monument" race, and a second stage team time trial around the streets of Brussels. The Australian sped ahead to leave Groenewegen and Niccolo Bonifazio trailing. > [54] The Iseran mountain pass, the highest paved pass in Europe, featured on stage 19.

[42][43][44] The riders thought to be Sagan's biggest rivals were Caleb Ewan (Lotto–Soudal), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jumbo–Visma), Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) and Elia Viviani (Deceuninck–Quick-Step). This quartet enjoyed a brief and slender lead the peloton appeared content to let them have. the number of days spent by Miguel Indurain in yellow.

[21][22][23][24][25][26], After celebrating his 2018 Tour victory, Thomas was overweight at the start of the 2019 season. [102] These bonuses replaced the special time "bonus point" sprints that were a feature in the 2018 edition. This meant that in order to compete in the classification, a rider had to be born after 1 January 1994.