It was Saturday, July 20. The professional cyclists were lining up at the start line in Nice for the start of stage 20 of Tour de France 2024 – the penultimate stage of this year’s Tour and the final stage to feature mountain battle terrain. 

UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar had showed his amazing form, talent and courageous way of riding in yesterday’s stage 19 – a stage he won with a significant time advantage over his main general classification rivals Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep).

Stage 20 would take the riders in the Tour peloton on a 132.8-kilometer ride from Nice to Col de la Couillole in Southern France. The mood was good, and the spirits were high at the start line. 

A certain young Belgian had proven his worth in this year’s Tour while wearing a white jersey - and had observably been admitted into the Top Gun-like clique led by the brilliant man in the yellow skinsuit, who always had time for a charming smile ala Tom Cruise. While some riders were indeed “playing with the boys,” others were having trouble finding their role and fitting in, despite previously definitely having proven their worth in the greatest Grand Tour of them all: The Tour de France, where boys become men.

Today’s stage 20 featured one Category 2 climb and no less than three Category 1 climbs. The stage finale would be contested on the final Category 1 climb of Col de la Couillole. It would be a battle for the mountain goats and those general classification riders who were still hoping to advance in the rankings.

Following his splendid victory in yesterday’s Queen stage of the Tour, Pogacar had signaled he would lean back in today’s stage, relax and enjoy the ride, which would be ridden in territory known by the Slovenian from his daily training rides. Pogacar had a comfortable lead, so this could be a golden opportunity for breakaway artists or other GC riders to shine on French mountain soil.

Stage 20 started with a parade ride from Port de Nice and though the streets of Nice, where the rich and famous reside and spread their wings in the summer months. The port was dominated by luxury yachts. Today it was up to the riders in the Tour de France peloton to spread their wings. Remco Evenepoel was expected to launch an attack on Jonas Vingegaard’s second place in the general classification at some point during the stage. Olympic Champion Richard Carapaz was leading the Best Climber Classification for EF Education-EasyPost, and the Ecuadorian rider was expected to join a breakaway in the Polka-Dot jersey to increase his lead in the classification and possibly target an additional stage victory.

Denmark’s Magnus Cort was also spotted at the front of the peloton in the parade kilometers through Nice, and someone had to call the “fashion police” to force the Uno-X Mobility rider to do something about his faded grayish moustache before the start of tomorrow’s final stage in Monaco - home of the most fashionable, rich, and famous.

American Neilson Powless (Team EF Education-EasyPost) launched an attack shortly after the parade-part of the stage was completed. Cort joined him, as did Powless’ teammate Rui Costa. Hugo Houle (Team PremierTech) also bridged the gap together with Frenchmen Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).

The six breakaway optimists were fighting hard to build a useful gap before the start of the first climb of the day – the Col de Braus (Category Two). Unfortunately, riders who had missed out were chasing too hard from the front of the main peloton, which resulted in the breakaway getting reeled in.

The riders regrouped and EF Education-EasyPost took control at the front. Powless was in charge and leading the way for team captain Carapaz.

Powless was first to enter the Col de Braus and Carapaz stuck to his rear wheel, while other riders were struggling to hang on. Splits were forming in the peloton and the riders had no time to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean mountain terrain, including the pine trees along the roadside.

Wilco Kelderman (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) attacked from the front when seven kilometers remained of the Col de Braus climb. Bruno Armirail (AG2R-Mondiale) joined the Dutchman. The chase group had already been reduced to approximately fifteen riders and featured the general classification favorites.

Kelderman and Armirail were caught by Enric Mas (Movistar) and the trio pressed on.

Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and other riders were playing catch-up. The polka-dot jersey suited Carapaz well and he was having good fun on the climb.

With two kilometers of the first climb remaining, the front trio had an advantage of twenty seconds.

UAE Team Emirates riders had joined the chase. This was a surprise to many, as Pogacar had previously announced he would relax and enjoy today’s stage.

Temperatures on today’s route were between 26 and 31 degrees Celsius. The skies were blue, and the sun would be warming the riders throughout the stage. As it has been observed during all stages of this year’s Tour, riders in the professional Tour peloton were again spotted wearing their FlowBio hydration sensors, which helped them optimize their racing performance in the best possible manner in the hot weather.

Mas had dropped Armirail and Kelderman on the climb and the Spanish rider was first across the top of the climb. A dangerous descent now awaited the Tour riders. 

While Armirail and Kelderman rejoined Mas on the descent, a five-man chase group had formed behind them. The group featured “the great descender” Carapaz, Jan Tratnik (Visma – Lease a Bike), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Clement Champoussin (Arkea B & B Hotels), and Frenchman Romain Bardet (Team DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) who was riding his final Tour de France after a long and successful career.

The riders approached the Col de Turini (Category One; 20.8 km; 5.7%). The final part of the climb was the steepest and featured gradients of up to 10.1 percent.

Mas, Armirail, and Kelderman were first to enter the climb, but it did not take long before the five-man Carapaz-led group started reeling in the front trio. When ninety kilometers of the stage remained, the front trio had a lead of just thirty-eight seconds. A second chase group was approximately two minutes behind the front trio, while the general classification favorites were more than three minutes behind.

While Champoussin had been dropped from the chase group, Carapaz and his fellow three chase group compatriouts caught the front riders when nine kilometers of the long and winding climb remained. Carapaz’ timing was again spot-on, and he had the chance to fight for the valuable points for the Best Climber Classification.

Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ), and Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) caught the seven front men with one kilometer of Col de Turini remaining. Meanwhile, courageous and persistent American Neilson Powless was still chasing 52 seconds behind.

Carapaz was again the first rider to reach the summit of the climb. The Ecuadorian rider, therefore, banked the maximum points for the Best Rider Classification. He wanted to keep the red and white polka-dot jersey all the way to the Tour finish in Nice tomorrow. Because Paris is busy preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Tour de France will conclude in Nice this year.

Meanwhile, Soudal-QuickStep had sent its riders to the front of the main peloton group to increase the pace. With Jonas Vingegaard being “the wounded animal on the savannah,” Soudal-QuickStep’s Belgian team leader Remco Evenepoel was hoping to advance one spot in the general classification.

The riders approached the Col de la Colmiane (Category One; 7.4 km; 7%). The terrain leading up to the climb were also uphill and riders were suffering in the hot weather conditions. 

The ten front men had an advantage of more than four minutes as they reached the foot of Col de la Colmiane. Mas launched an attack. Kelderman and Carapaz countered. 

Tratnik attacked from the front group with 4.5 kilometers of the penultimate climb remaining. Carapaz countered promptly and other riders caught up as well.

Meanwhile, Soudal-QuickStep riders were still spearheading the general favorites group in support of Evenepoel and to wear down Vingegaard.

Carapaz was first to reach the top of Col de la Colmiane and thereby banked maximum points for the Best Climber Classification. Part one of the day’s mission completed. Carapaz will win the Climber Classification in this year’s Tour, as no other rider is able to gain more points than the Ecuadorian in the competition. Carapaz could now focus completely on the second part of today’s mission: taking an additional stage win – this time wearing the polka-dot skinsuit.

A fast and dangerous descent along the long and winding road into the valley now followed for the courageous riders in the Tour peloton.

The front group was now approaching the Col de la Couillole, which was where the stage finale would be contested. Apart from tomorrow’s time trial, it was the final categorized climb of this year’s Tour. The Col de la Couillole is a Category One climb. It is 15.8 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 7.3 percent.

Tratnik set a fast pace in the front group at the beginning of the climb. Very impressive effort by the Visma – Lease a Bike rider from Slovenia.

Ineos-Grenadiers team captain Carlos Rodriguez had been dropped from the general classification favorites group, which was still headed by Soudal-QuickStep riders. 

Tratnik, Armirail and Geniets were dropped from the front group. Soler was struggling to keep up. Twelve kilometers remained.

Mas attacked with 11.5 kilometers remaining. Carapaz immediately bridged the gap to the Spanish rider. Bardet caught up with the duo as 10.8 kilometers remained.

Carapaz attacked again on his Cannondale bike and only Mas could follow. Frenchman Bardet was now suffering behind them. The fabulous pink Cadillac from the EF Education-EasyPost team was immediately behind Carapaz to offer him any refueling and support he needed on the mean climb to the finish line.

The condensed six-man general classification group was setting a hard pace. The front duo now had a lead of only 01:30 minutes with 7.7 kilometers remaining. Evenepoel was still eager to leave Vingegaard behind and climb one spot in the general classification. Pogacar, meanwhile, was unreachable for the young Belgian.

Carapaz attacked from the front duo with 7.5 kilometers left of today’s Tour de France battle.

Evenepoel attacked from the chase group. His courage should be admired by everyone. Vingegaard immediately countered as did Pogacar. The attack was annulled. Joao Almeida moved to the front to set a pace that suited UAE Team Emirates captain Pogacar.

Mas and Carapaz fought on further up the road. They were still together with five kilometers left.

Carapaz accelerated and set a furious pace on the climb to drop Mas. He failed. Evenepoel attacked from the favorites group. Vingegaard countered and left Evenepoel behind in joint fashion with Pogacar.

Carapaz and Mas were now just 33 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and Pogacar. 3.5 kilometers of the battle remained.

Carapaz tried again with three kilometers remaining. Mas stuck to his rear wheel. Pogacar and Vingegaard had almost caught the front duo. The groups merged with 2500 meters remaining.

Mas got dropped two kilometers from the finish line. Vingegaard set an excruciating pace.

Vingegaard and Pogacar left Carapaz behind with one kilometer left. Vingegaard was still in front.

The final sprint toward the finish line was launched in the final meters. Pogacar again proved the strongest man on the day and is the winner of stage 20 of Tour de France 2024. Vingegaard finished second, while Carapaz completed the podium after a very admirable and persistent effort.

Tadej Pogacar remains Tour de France general classification leader for UAE Team Emirates ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) before Sunday’s final individual time trial from Monaco to Nice.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Tour de France 2024.

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