Primož Roglič leapfrogged Chris Froome in the overall placings to third with his Stage 19 victory. The Brit now lies 13 seconds behind the LottoNL-Jumbo rider with just Stage 20's 31 kilometre individual time trial to come.
Froome lost contact with the yellow jersey group after Roglič bombed it down the descent of the Col d’Aubisque and launched several attacks in the closing kilometres. Team mate Egan Bernal, in his first Tour de France, salvaged Froome's day, bringing him back across before Roglič slipped off the front again to claim the stage win.
"I was just hanging on there doing the most I could," Froome said. "And trying to mark Roglič a bit and try and help out in the final but...just the end of obviously a long hard three weeks."
This year's Tour is the first in four consecutive grand tours Froome has raced but not won. And if he does not stand on the podium in Paris on Sunday, it'll be the first time since 2015.
Out of his last 13 grand tour starts before this race, Froome has stood on the final podium at all but three - two DNFs (2015 Vuelta, 2014 Tour de France) and fourth overall (2012 Vuelta).
But the four-time Tour de France champion is comforted by team mate Geraint Thomas in yellow and the pending birth of Froome's new baby.
"Time trial tomorrow but I think we're in a brilliant position with G with the yellow jersey. I mean he's feeling great and should get the job done.
"I'm looking forward to getting home. I've got a little baby girl on the way in the next few days so hopefully I make it home in time for that! '
"But this is now the fourth grand tour consecutively I've raced so looking forward to a bit of rest."
