classification, results and winner of the 20th stage

The stage of ups and downs

The last big mountain stage and the route ahead of the cyclists turned into a real rollercoaster. Up and down, with the first pass of the second category and the next three first grade. All the fish were sold in the general classification thanks to the decisive blow to the table that Tadej Pogacar made on stage 19 with his victory in Isola 2000, but with many problems to cut before the second and third places with Evenepoel and Vingegaard. and the fight for the stage.

A short day of 132 km, but with the intensity required for the high mountains and with a combination of the sea of ​​Nice (departure) and the interior peaks (with the Col de la Cujol as the last giant).

Betting on escape for final victory

With an average difference of four minutes between the escape group and the peloton on the penultimate climb (the Col de la Colmiane) race director with 10 runners, among whom were two Spaniards: Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) and Enric Mas (Movistar Team)In addition to the big names of mountain leader Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), who dreamed of winning the stage with the permission of the peloton, and the stratospheric Tadej Pogačar.

Behind them was Soudal Quick-Step – the team of Remco Evenepoel. and he worked at the head of the largest group, trying to force the pace, using a strategy of giving ground to Evenepoel, who was almost obliged to try to get an axe-wielding blow on Vingegaard and snatch second place from him.

The rhythm in the majority group slowly eroded the fugitives, who checked each other from time to time, while showing a certain suspicion among themselves.

Carapaz had won the crown and at that moment he was mathematically certain that he would be wearing the polka dot jersey at the end of the tour. Enric Mas was close and the Movistar player wanted to make room to go down and take advantage of the run-out, but the group was united again.

Evenepoel Quick-Step, Back Push

The Col de la Cujol was the last major obstacle to the stage win, the final climb to end the day, which they achieved with a time of 2:56, which felt a little short compared to the peloton.

A pass with an average gradient of 7.1%, but very constant. With all the ingredients to offer a great show.

Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) flirted with a breakaway but held on, while the Soudal Quick-Step team pulled hard. However, the two strongest at the front of the race were Enric Mas and Carapaz, and together they went on an adventure for the final victory.

A potential victory that came at a high cost because the great riders came from behind Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Pogačar.

At the top, Enric and Carapaz fought off several attacks from the Ecuadorian side, and a few seconds ago, Evenepoel, who had previously tried a small attack, was beaten by Vingegaard and Pogacar, who were chasing the two head-on.

Pogačar does not forgive

The hunt they resisted, but eventually arrived, forming a four-man group that did not last long. Enric was the first to give way to the Dane and Slovenian, Carapaz also gave up shortly before the finish.

The final meters of the stage saw head-to-head encounters between the Slovenian and the Dane. The UAE man did not give up, a Tour win is a Tour win, and he started off strong, leaving Vingegaard pinned down.

Slovenian achieves this his fifth victory in this edition of the French stage and leaves the race ready to be decided even more than what he could have done on stage 19. The Slovenian stands at 5ft 14in with Vingaard and 8ft 04in with Evenepoel.

Final time trial the icing on the cake for Pogacar?

Tour de France ends in 2024 Time trial from Monaco to Nice. A “golden” or “yellow” opportunity, no matter how you look at it, for the Slovenian to win the sixth stage and close an extraordinary Tour for the UAE leader.