The final day in the Pyrenees at this year`s Tour de France produced another blockbuster with Simon Yates winning the stage and Thibaut Pinot providing his best case yet as to why he will be France`s next Tour winner and not Julian Alaphilippe. However, behind the first round of headlines is the intriguing issue of leadership at Team Ineos after Egan Bernal outclimbed his teammate and last year`s winner, Geraint Thomas, for the second day in succession. Thomas remains second overall and cut Alaphilippe`s lead to 1:35 but the Welshman was unable to respond when Pinot attacked with 6km to go. Bernal, on the other hand, followed and although he was dropped before the line and Thomas put time into several other riders, the Colombian closed the gap between himself and the Welshman to just 27 seconds.ADVERTISEMENT There are no more time trials between here and Paris and after Monday`s rest day, the race heads towards the Alps. Team Ineos, who are normally in full control of the race at this point, will be working overtime behind the scenes in determining who to back. In the public arena they might roll out the old adage `that the road will decide` but the defending champions do not have such a luxury in this year`s race. Sooner or later, in order to crack their rivals, they must set a course and stick to it. On stage 15, as Geraint Thomas stated, they were caught between a rock and hard place. When Bernal was able to follow Pinot, last year`s winner was forced to ride at his own tempo. The Welshman attacked with 1.5km to go but by then Pinot`s star was shining bright and Bernal`s was flickering through the mist atop the summit finish above Foix. `Pinot really had pace and then he attacked and I felt really good,` he said. `On the second to last climb, Geraint told me I could do my own race so I was trying to follow Pinot and just stay on his wheel, because Geraint was behind. I think that was a good moment for us. Co-leaders
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