Tom Pidcock won his first Tour de France stage in style with a solo victory on the legendary Alpe d’Huez.
Four-time Tour Champion Chris Froome and compatriot Pidcock were part of a five-man breakaway during Stage 12.
And Pidcock, who made his tour debut aged 22 for Ineos Grenadiers, became the youngest winner at Alpe d’Huez.
It sent the cyclocross world champion and mountain bike Olympic champion back into the top 10 overall as Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow jersey.
Pidcock is only the second Brit to win at the summit of Alpe d’Huez, after Geraint Thomas in 2018, when a stage last finished there.
Asked when he would know he would win a 165km test course that had started in Briancon and included two other huge mountains, the Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer, Pidcock replied: “Honestly, only 800 m from the finish.
“I didn’t really know what to do. I kept walking because I didn’t want to get caught. I don’t know if I rode too hard or something, but actually I did really well.”
Pidcock had steadily been gaining time on his fellow escapees earlier in the day with some dynamic descents, but was only able to pull away for good on the famous final climb with 10km to go.
Not only was he battling the sweltering heat of the Alps, but he also had to drive through a wall of fans as spectators filled the roadside, creating a unique and raw atmosphere for all riders.
“It was amazing, one of the craziest experiences ever,” added Pidcock. “I could hardly hear anything, I probably have hearing damage.
“It was just ridiculous – there were a lot of points where I thought I’d get pulled out – but it was one of my best experiences in cycling. It was unreal racing through people’s flags and fists in the slalom.”
Froome ultimately eluded a first stage win on the Tour since 2016, but the 37-year-old has visibly enjoyed his performance on his best day of the race ever since Seriously injured in an accident in 2019.
“I gave absolutely everything to win the stage today and I have no regrets,” said Froome.
“Where I’ve come from over the last three years, fighting my way back from my accident to finish third on one of the toughest stages of the Tour, I can be really happy with that.
“I’ll keep pushing. I don’t know where my limits are, but I’ll keep trying to improve and hopefully get back to winning ways.”
It was also a productive day for Thomas, who finished seventh with two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar and race leader Vingegaard.
That was enough for the 36-year-old Welshman, who also won the Tour after winning here in 2018, to move up to third overall.
Pogacar is now second while Romain Bardet dropped two places to fourth after falling back in the last 5km.
Vingegaard, who had dramatically taken the yellow jersey from Pogacar on Stage 11, appeared content to defend his lead and easily dealt with two attacks from Pogacar in the closing stages.
Stage 12 results
1. Tom Pidcock (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) 4 hours 55 minutes 24 seconds
2. Louis Meintjes (SA/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materials) +48 sec
3. Chris Froome (GB/Israel-Premier Tech) +2 min 06 sec
4. Neilson Powless (USA/EF Education-EasyPost) +2 min 29 sec
5. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +3 min 23 sec
6. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) Same time
7. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers)
8. Enric Mas (Spa / Movistar) +3min 26sec
9. Sepp Kuss (USA / Jumbo-Visma) Same time
10. Giulio Ciccone (Ita / Trek-Segafredo) + 3 min 32 sec
Overall level 12 classification
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den / Jumbo-Visma) 46 hrs 28 mins 46 secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +2 min 22 sec
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2 min 26 sec
4. Romain Bardet (Fra/Team DSM) +2 min 35 sec
5. Adam Yates (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +3 min 44 sec
6. Nairo Quintana (Col/Arkea-Samsic) +3min 58sec
7. David Gaudu (Fra / Groupama-FDJ) + 4 minutes 07 seconds
8. Tom Pidcock (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +7 min 39 sec
9. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +9 min 32 sec
10. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus/Bora-hansgrohe) +10 min 06 sec
