Race organisers said times would be taken from the top of the Col de l’Iseran following the decision to bring an early halt to the stage because of hailstorm and reported landslides in the local area.

Team Ineos' Bernal was two minutes in front of Deceuninck–QuickStep's Alaphilippe at that point, meaning he takes over the lead in an increasingly thrilling race for the general classification.

The Colombian rider has a 45-second advantage over the Frenchman in the overall standings.

Ineos team mate and defending champion Geraint Thomas is in third place, 1min 03sec adrift of Bernal.

Thomas was around a minute ahead of Alaphilippe when he reached the summit of the climb.

In a statement posted on Twitter, organisers said there would not be a stage winner owing to the interruption.

"The jersey classifications have been established using the times recorded at the summit of the Col de l'Iseran," the statement added.

Bernal made it to the top alongside Britain's Simon Yates before the decision was taken to end the stage.

It came after television coverage showed the road towards the finish was impassable because of snow and hail.

"We had the race in our hands and Egan would have liked to ride the last climb but the riders’ safety comes first, ASO [organisers] did a great job," said Team Ineos sports director Nicolas Portal, according to Reuters.

“We wanted to smash it today and the guys were super-motivated. 

"It would have been ideal if the race could have continued because even if he had reduced the gap in the descent, Julian would have suffered in the last ascent.”

The Tour is scheduled to continue with the 130km 20th stage from Albertville to Val Thorens.