Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) won Stage 17 of the Tour de France, prevailing on the famous Col de la Loze on a day of great action and drama.

A breakaway that took quite some time to establish was whittled down to a select group of three riders with 25km to go: Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), Gorka Izagirre (Astana) and Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers). The trio had almost two minutes over the peloton as they hit the foot of the Col de la Loze, the second HC climb of the day, and before long Carapaz was on his own out front.

The excitement ramped up when Lopez, Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) caught and passed Carapaz inside the final 3km.

Lopez then attacked, Kuss chased and Roglic bridged across, but the Colombian was too strong and went solo for the final 2.5km to take his first Tour victory. Roglic kicked on to distance Pogacar and gain vital GC seconds on his fellow Slovenian, crossing the line second with Pogacar third.

Roglic now has a 57-second lead over Pogacar in the overall standings, with stage victory lifting Lopez to third in GC at 1min 26sec down on Roglic.