Former Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana struggled on the final mountain stage of the competition, dropping from fourth to fifth overall on the road to Otakam, finishing 13th, 5:22 behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard.

The Arkea-Samsic leader had been battling with Frenchman David Gaudoux (Groupama-FDJ) for fourth place before the stage, but in the final time trial on Saturday, he was battling with Louis Maintus (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) for fifth place

Pyrénées was in a battle for fourth place with FDJ.

Quintana's time loss in the 143.2km stage through the Pyrenees was compounded by a penalty handed down by the UCI Commissaires for temporarily pushing off his race bike on the Col de Spandel, the final climb of the stage.

As Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), and Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) struggled to hang on to the GC elite group, Quintana was filming at the back of the pack and pushed off a (7]

This podium finish was the first time that the team had won a race in the GC. (7]

This push allowed Quintana to rejoin the small group in front of Gordou.

After the race, Quintana was penalized under section 4.3 of 2.12.007 (open in new tab) for "pushing a car, motorcycle, or rider."

Quintana received a 10-second time penalty as a result, a CHF 200 fine, and a 20% reduction in points and mountain prizes (4 points each). With this ruling, Quintana is now 13:35 behind the leaders and 8 seconds behind Meintjes, with Alexandre Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) in seventh place, 35 seconds behind.

Despite this, the 32-year-old is now looking for Arkea Samsic's best ever result in the Tour.

"I gave it my all, and it was a little hard to breathe," Quintana said after the stage. But I don't want to use that as an excuse. But I don't want to use that as an excuse."

"The Tour de France is great.

"My teammates did a great job. Everyone did their best. I want to set a good time so I can be number one in this Tour de France. I raced with all my heart and put everything I had into the fight.

"It was a great way to get my confidence back in the Tour de France after some difficult years," he added. He added."

Quintana's punishment was one of several handed down during the stage and is listed on the jury decision sheet distributed in the press room at the end of each day of the Tour.

Movistar and Intermarché Wantigovert director Sportif were fined CHF 500 for failing to respect the commissaire's instructions, and Cofidis was fined CHF 200 for the same offense regarding "positioning assistants during refueling. Cofidis was fined CHF 200 for the same offense concerning "positioning of the assistant during refueling.

Mikkel Bjarg (UAE Team Emirates) and Guillaume van Kersbulck (Alpecin Deceuninck) received the lightest penalty (CHF 200 fine and 10 UCI points penalty) for inappropriate behavior that insulted the commissaire.

Finally, two bike drivers were excluded from the rest of the stage and from the stage 19 race for violating "regulations and guidelines regarding the movement of vehicles during the race."