Tour de France stage 20 - Live coverage

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All the action from the penultimate-day time trial

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Hello there and welcome along to our live coverage of the Tour de France. It's stage 20, the penultimate day, and we have an individual time trial that finishes on La Planche des Belles Filles. This is where the general classification will be decided  ahead of the traditional procession to Paris on Sunday. Race leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) has a 57-second lead over Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and, such is his time trialling prowess, is expected to all-but seal the title today. 

The battle for the yellow jersey isn't exactly over. Strange things can happen at the end of the Tour, and Pogacar actually beat Roglic earlier this year to win the Slovenian national time trial title, so the yellow jersey will still be feeling the pressure. However, such has been the smoothness of Roglic's Tour so far, and the momentum he regained on the Col de la Loze, losing yellow would be a huge upset. 

The first rider down the ramp will be Roger Kluge (Lotto Soudal) at 13:00 local time (so in around 15 minutes). They're setting off in reverse order of the GC, at intervals of 90 seconds for the bottom half of the field, then two minutes for the top half. Roglic will be the last rider to start at 17:14. Click here for the full list of start times.

Here's the course. As we've seen in the Tour over the past decade, the Planche des Belles Filles is a steep, nasty climb in the Vosges. It's not so long, at 5.9km, but the average gradient is 8.5%, with numerous ramps in the double digits and that stinging 20% pitch up to the finish line. This is not, however, a climber's TT, given the 30km or so of flat or rolling roads before we reach the climb. It suits someone who can do both - ie Roglic, who is the heavy favourite for the stage victory. 

One interesting thing to look out for today will be bike changes. The first 30km are best ridden on an aerodynamic time trial bike, but many will prefer a standard road bike for the climb, which is lighter and easier to handle uphill, especially when out of the saddle. Mid-race bike changes are allowed and widely expected, with the very start of the climb the logical place to do so. Stopping to change bikes obviously takes time, so teams will have to carefully calculate how much time they can reasonably expect to save by riding the climb on a normal bike. As we've seen in the past, these bike changes are often far from smooth.

Anyway, if you want an in-depth look at today's stage, from the tech to the route to the GC complexion, here's Barry Ryan's preview. 

We're off!

A relaxed start from Kluge, who has simply been battling to make time limits in the Alps this week. He has often ridden behind even the gruppetto, as the Lotto riders look to get sprinter Caleb Ewan through to Paris, where he won last year. 

A lot of sprinters and lead-out men among the early starters. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) is about to get underway in his green skinsuit, after pretty much wrapping up the points classification yesterday.

Looking at the earlier starters, the names that stand out are the QuickStep duo of
Rémi Cavagna (13:43:30) and Kasper Asgreen (13:45:00) - especially the latter. They could give us the early benchmark. There are some decent rouleurs and some decent climbers but this a very specific time trial, and it's those who can do both, and those who have something at stake, who will be strongest. That means the GC riders later on.

Ewan and Bennett are both out there, but thinking of tomorrow. They've established themselves as the top two sprinters of this Tour, with two wins for Ewan and one plus the green jersey for Bennett. They'll be going toe-to-toe on the Champs Elysées tomorrow evening, and it's a tough one to call. Bennett has been going much better in the Alps, while Ewan has finished at the back each day, which leads you to believe he's the stronger of the two at the moment. Then again, he has expended energy battling for green at the intermediates and in yesterday's finale, so Ewan might just be the fresher of the two, especially since he's done nothing more than he's had to just to finish in the past few days. He won on the final day last year, so there are no question marks over his endurance. 

The first three starters, all from Lotto Soudal, are all on the Col de Chevestraye, which tops out after 24.5km. It doesn't look like much on the profile in the shadow of the Planche des Belles Filles, but it's a significant uphill effort. 

While the sprinters are out on course, why not have a read of the latest in Procycling magazine's daily analysis pieces?

Tony Martin has just set off. The four-time time trial world champion won't be in the hunt for the victory today but will be able to provide intel and feedback for his teammate Roglic. 

Bike change for Ewan at the bottom of the Planche des Belles Filles. He gets a push from his mechanic to get him going again. That's allowed, but only for five seconds. 

Significant crowds out there on the climb. It has felt odd, at times, that the Tour has been going ahead in the middle of this pandemic, especially at a time where the situation in France has worsened so much. But the final tests were done on Monday and there's no doubt this race is going all the way now.

We have two intermediate checkpoints on today's course. The first comes in Le Raddon after a flat opening 14.5km. The second comes right at the foot of the Planche des Belles Filles, after 30.3km. Nils Politt (Israel Start-Up Nation) has the fastest time at the first so far, with 17:44, while Maxime Chevalier (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) is fastest at the second, with 43:19.

Want to know all about Mikel Landa's pulley wheels? Of course you do

We mentioned Cavagna and Asgreeen might set some of the stronger early times, and the former, in the French national champion's skinsuit, has just breezed through the first checkpoint 46 seconds up on Politt's previous benchmark, with 16:57. Asgreen follows along to post the second fastest time, with 17:14. 

First finisher!

Ewan grinds himself up the final ramps now and stops the clock on 01:05:39. It's been a big old effort this week for the Australian sprinter, with the Champs Elysées literally the only possible reward. He must be up for it, because he's doing the Giro d'Italia as well a couple of weeks after the Tour, and some might have considered dropping from the Tour after the second week. 

Chevalier knocks a few minutes out of the sprinters with 01:01:57. Who will be the first rider to break the hour barrier?

Bennett stops the clock on 1:05:55 - that's 16 seconds slower than Ewan. Both will be well within the time limit, and that's job done. 

Cavagna and Asgreen have both just been through the second checkpoint (30.3km). Cavagna has the fastest time, with 40:01, and Asgreen is second fastest, but a full 55 seconds slower. Both are now on the Planche.

The word 'Pinot' is chalked across the tarmac tens - if not hundreds - of times at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles. This is home turf for Thibaut Pinot, and this time trial, when the route was unveiled last October, was widely seen as the Frenchman's date with destiny. How far this has veered from the script. Pinot's challenge effectively ended on the opening day, even if his injuries didn't cause him to lose time until the first weekend. He has battled on, almost anonymously, choosing not to leave the race and heal up for future objectives. Today was a big factor in doing so. The stage starts a stone's throw from his old school, and the route passes a stone's throw from his parents' house in Mélisey after 9km. An emotional day ahead for him, you sense. 

"It's going to be a big moment for me - a big moment in my career," Pinot was quoted as saying in L'Equipe this morning. "Very few riders have the chance to ride a time trial like that on their home roads. I know I'll have goosebumps the whole way. It will be a pleasure - my little bit of happiness from this Tour."

Cavagna comes to the top now, and he's climbed well. He's the fist rider under an hour, with 57:54. 

Asgreen drags himself to thee line now. He might have been expected to climb better than Cavagna but he looks a little tired and finishes 2:31 down on his teammate.

Over in the Tour of Luxembourg, there was a lorry on the road. Yes, really. That race already had its safety incidents on the opening day, resulting in a rider protest. Ridiculous that something like this has happened again. Details in the link below.

Not much action at the top of the leaderboard. No one is getting anywhere near Cavagna's times at the moment. 

And we can hear from the rider in the hotseat now. 

TT's don't always make for great drama but this one was always going to make for some great shots.

Soren Kragh Andersen (Subweb) is underway. He's a good time triallist who's also pretty versatile and should go well. He'll be on cloud nine, after collecting a second stage win yesterday. Both were solos after canny, well-timed attacks. Sunweb, who also won a stage with Marc Hirschi, have had a brilliant Tour - and after so many questions over their selection...

Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) rolls down the ramp, and he could be up there in an hour or so. He's put in many a good time trial and is a strong climber. 

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) now. He was second in the Tour time trial in Pau last year, if I remember correctly. A top rouleur on his day, and also someone who can climb - he's won stages on Mont Ventoux and the Stelvio. 

Alessandro De Marchi (CCC Team) has the second fastest time at the finish, with 01:00:01 - that's just over two minutes down on Cavagna.

It doesn't look like Schachmann will be challenging today. He's 19th so far at the first checkpoint, 1:18 down on Cavagna's benchmark.

De Gendt is also well over a minute down at the first checkpoint. 

Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-QuickStep) is off now, another rider who has the abilities for this course, although he hasn't looked quite at his best at this Tour.

58:35 for David de la Cruz (UAE Team Emirates). That puts the Spaniard into second place as it stands. 

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) gets underway now. In last year's form, he'd be one of the big favourites for today, but this isn't the Alaphilippe of 2019, even if he's won a stage and worn yellow. He's thinking about the World Championships next week (next week!) and has said he doesn't want to finish the Tour exhausted, like last year. That hasn't stopped him getting in pretty much every breakaway. 

Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) is off now and we're starting to get some big names out there. The German has won a stage in the Alps and was second on the Puy Mary stage, so he can climb, but he's also a former junior world time trial champion. He's had a very active Tour, so how much has he got left?

Jungels is more than a minute down on Cavagna at the first checkpoint after 14.5km.

Almost time for Pinot

Pinot crushes a couple of late gels and takes to the start ramp. He bows his head for a moment, as his name is read out to his home crowds. The announcer has them chanting his name now. This is, as he said, his little moment of happiness on this Tour de France. 

Soren Kragh Andersen hits the line, stopping the clock on 59:54. That's the third fastest time so far.

Schachmann has had a decent climb but he finishes two minutes down on Cavagna for fourth place as it stands.

Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos) is 47 seconds down on Cavagna at the first checkpoint, with the seventh fastest time so far there. 

Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) rolls down the ramp

'All or nothing'

All the GC contenders are warming up now. We're moving towards the business end of today's stage. 

A reminder of the overall standings before we get there

Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) is underway. His challenge has fizzled out after that crash in the second week, which is a shame given the way he'd started the season and looked a rider re-born in the red of Arkea. 

Pinot is just over a minute down on Cavagna's time at the first checkpoint. 

Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) gets his ride underway. He's been one of the stand-out riders of this Tour, outlasting some of the top GC contenders on the very hardest stages, all while looking like he's barely breathing. He's confirmed himself as one of the very brightest talents. 

Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic), 14th overall, is next down the ramp. We're getting closer to the top 10 now. 

Richard Carapaz (Ineos) is on the ramp now. He's in the polka-dots and he's out to defend them, which is why he has made a leisurely start. There are mountains points for the fastest six riders (10-8-6-4-2-1) on the 5.9km final climb up La Planche des Belles Filles. He leads the KOM standings by two points over Pogacar and seven over Roglic, so it's all to play for, and he's going to save as much energy as possible on the first 30km before going all-out on the climb. 

Here's how the mountains classification stands

17:36 for Van Aert at the first checkpoint after 14.5km. That's third fastest, and 39 seconds down on Cavagna's time. 

Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) gets underway. He has faded in the second and third weeks but has still taken a step forward. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain McLaren) sets off now, sitting 11th overall after a fine Tour in service of Mikel Landa. 

And now for the top 10, in the following order:

Pinot stops at the foot of the Planche des Belles Filles to change onto his road bike. He's 13th fastest so far, and has 2:21 to make up on Cavagna on this climb. 

Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) gets underway. A former time trial world champion and Grand Tour winner, who has looked better and better as the race has gone on, he's very much a contender today.

Urán is off. He looked quietly and ominously consistent but has faded in the third week. 

Yates goes now. He's more than 90 seconds down on Mas in sixth place.

And Mas goes now. Unlike Urán, he had a shaky start but has looked better and better. He can time trial well on his day and has 51 seconds to make up on Landa to get into the top five. 

Kamna comes to the line now and stops the clock on 01:00:07. That's the seventh best effort so far. 

Alaphilippe is well down as he springs out of the saddle on the upper slopes of the Planche. The fans still love him, but he's not quite on the same level as last year. He's more than 5 minutes down on his teammate Cavagna. 

Cavagna's time will come under serious threat soon but it has proved to be a very very strong ride, especially on the climb. De la Cruz is the only rider within two minutes at the moment. 

Landa goes now. Ever an enigma, you never quite know what you're getting with the Spaniard. He's not a great time triallist but has actually pulled out some surprisingly good rides in the past. I'm thinking back to Marseille on the penultimate day of the 2017 Tour, and he almost took Bardet off the podium that day. He was a single second short, I think. 

Porte is off now, too, and this is the real battle for the podium. He needs to find 99 seconds on López, which, given his time trialling skills, isn't beyond the realms of possibility. 

López gets his ride underway - one of the biggest of his career. He has finished on the podium of the Giro and Vuelta, so this would complete the set. On his Tour debut, a stage win and podium would be a big success. 

Time for Tadej

Last rider off!

Pinot rides across his own name that has been painted onto the tarmac pretty much the whole way up the final kick to the line. He's out of the saddle and giving everything as the fans bang the hoardings to create a corridor of noise. He's back in the saddle but manages one last kick, then back in the saddle, and another one. He's emptying the tank. It's only good enough for 6th place, as it stands, but he'll have enjoyed that one. 

Great ride from Dani Martinez (EF), who posts 59:14 to take the third fastest time so far. 

Van Aert has just posted the second fastest time at the second checkpoint. He's made up six seconds on Cavagna on that second section. Now for the climb, where he needs 33 seconds to take the lead. 

Carapaz has now been passed by both Martin and Caruso. That shows how easy he's taking it on this opening section. 

Live timings suggest Roglic is losing 12 seconds to Pogacar after 7km. Interesting if true - if being the operative word. These live timings are notoriously unreliable. 

Dumoulin, by the way, crossed the first checkpoint in 17:09. That's second fastest and just 12 seconds down on Cavagna.

Dumoulin started the day 1:19 down on Uran on the overall standings, and 1:29 down on Yates. You wouldn't bet against him moving up a couple of places the way he's going today.

17:45 for Porte at the first checkpoint. That's more than 45 seconds up on Landa, so he looks safe in that regard. López's time will be interesting in the fight for the podium.

18:26 for Lopez! He has lost 41 seconds to Porte over 14.5km. If he loses 58 more, he loses his podium.

Van Aert is looking smooth on this climb. He has switched to his road bike and live timings would suggest it's neck and neck with Cavagna's time at the moment. 

Pogacar is flying! 17:14 at the first checkpoing - that's the third fastest so far and just five seconds down on Dumoulin. 

Van Aert is flying up this climb. Timings would suggest he's well up on Cavagna now, and heading for the hotseat.

Here comes Roglic to the first checkpoint. 17:27! That's 13 seconds down on Pogacar. 

Roglic still has plenty of time in hand but Pogacar has made a strong start here. Can he hold this pace on the second section of the course?

Van Aert springs from the saddle as he comes to the top of the climb. He's heading for the fastest time, that's for sure. Nothing surprises you with him anymore. 

Here he comes... over the last lip and a final push for the line. He even gives us a bike throw. 57:26! Wow! A full 28 seconds quicker than Cavagna, who leaves the hotseat.

Pogacar catches Lopez and flies past him. They set off two minutes apart. 

Live timings have Dumoulin well up on Van Aert. There could be a few Jumbo-Vismas in the top 10 today. 

Dumoulin fastest at the second checkpoint (30.3km). He clocks 39:43 - 51 seconds up on Van Aert. 

No bike change for Dumoulin. The Dutchman stays on his TT machine as he hits the steep lower slopes of the Planche. 

Live timings have Dumoulin all of 54 seconds up on Van Aert. This is all about pacing. It seems Van Aert rode conservatively on the flatter section - the part that suited him better - and left something in the tank to give it all on the climb. 

Live timings also suggest that Pogacar is continuing to eat into Roglic's lead. He's 20 seconds up now, but still needs another 37.

Urán is through the second checkpoint 1:31 down on Dumoulin, so he's stemmed the tide just a little on the second section.

Pello Bilbao comes to the finish now, 5th fastest so far - 1:49 down on Van Aert

Dumoulin seems to be conceding ground on the climb, compared to Van Aert. 

Pogacar seems to be still chipping away at Roglic...! Seven more seconds now. This seconds checkpoint will be interesting. 

Yates is 42:22 at the second checkpoint. That's more than a minute slower than Uran, and 40 seconds slower than Mas, who grabs a bike change and starts the climb. 

Dumoulin is still seemingly 35 seconds up on Van Aert as he enters the final 3km of the climb. 

41:58 for Landa at the second split. 

Barguil finishes now, with the seventh fastest time so far. Decent ride.

40:44 for Porte at that second split. He's pulling away from those below him, and we'll see how much time he's putting into Lopez in that all-important podium battle. 

Bike change for Porte

Live timings show Roglic 30 seconds down on Pogacar! Wow. The Tour de France could well be in play here. 

This is going to come down to the final climb. Is it just a question of pacing, or is Roglic fading/Pogacar flying and we're on our way to a dramatic shift?

Pogacar reaches the foot of the climb, and gets a bike change. It looks like an efficient one. 

39:44 for Pogacar at that second checkpoint! That's second fastest - one second behind Dumoulin. 

Dumoulin enters the final kilometre. He's still losing ground on Van Aert on the climb, but he looks to have enough in the bank to take the lead.

43:18 for Lopez at that checkpoint. That's 2:30 down on Porte and he's falling from the podium. He needs to claw back a minute on the Planche...

40:20 for Roglic at the checkpoint!

Dumoulin comes to the finish and clocks 57:16. That's 10 seconds quicker than Van Aert and he's into the hotseat.

Bike change for Roglic... And it's a slow one! That was really sluggish. 

Huge drama on the final day of the Tour! The yellow jersey might just be slipping away from Roglic!!

Live timings suggest Roglic has only lost a second or two from that change. 

Roglic is straining as he rises from the saddle. You expect to see him planted and dead still, like Dumoulin on his TT bike. 

Roglic is blowing up!!

Still 4.3km to the top for Roglic, who now has just 6 seconds of his 57-second lead left. Wow

Pogacar the virtual leader!

It heads back into the green, but now it's back into the red. He's 5 seconds down on Pogacar as it stands.

Incredible drama at the Tour! And the manically fluctuating live timings are not helping! But the general trend is Roglic losing time to Pogacar all the way up this climb. 

Roglic is in real trouble here. He springs desperately out of the saddle. And now he sits down and pedals a really low cadence. His legs have gone here. 

Pogacar's head is bobbing. He still looks strong but he still has 3km to go.

Porte catches Landa now and is riding onto the podium. Yates finishes in 18th place but this is all about the battle for yellow now. This could be one for the ages.

Pogacar heads under the 2km to go banner. Live timings have him 1:17 up on Roglic on the road. That'd be 20 seconds ahead on GC. 

Who saw this coming? Roglic had looked so calm, so assured. Impenetrable. Many saw this TT as a box-ticking exercise, the title secured with a stage win. But Pogacar has turned the tables in incredible style.

Roglic catches Lopez, who started four minutes ahead of him, but it's still not good enough against his main rival, who continues to look full of energy.

Porte comes to the line, and he almost pips Dumoulin! Less than a second in it there. Great ride from Porte, who will finish on the podium.

Pogacar is in the final kilometre now and he has 45 seconds in hand on an ailing Roglic in the overall standings. Pogacar is heading into yellow. Pogacar is going to win the Tour

Into the final 500m for Pogacar. He takes the right-hander onto the super-steep final ramp. He bits his lip, grits his teeth, and pushes the last ounces of energy into the pedals.

Pogacar bursts out of the saddle as Dumoulin and Van Aert watch on in disbelief.

Pogacar comes to the line, and he's going to take the stage win, too!

Pogacar crosses the line and rips a huge 1:21 into Dumoulin's time!! Unbelievable!!!!

A ride that will go down in history

Roglic hasn't looked good out there, but it's not simply that he's blown it. Pogacar has produced a simply enormous ride. To put 1:21 into Dumoulin in second place is an astonishing stage win. 

Roglic comes to the top now. Through the fast final bend and onto the 20% final kick. Roglic looks pale, he knows he's lost the Tour here. 

He's already 1:20 down on Pogacar and still has 250m to go

Roglic drags himself to the line and finally stops the clock on 57:51. That's a full 1:56 down on Pogacar.

Roglic collapses to the floor and sits bolt upright, staring blankly into the distance. Several metres away, Pogacar roars in celebration. 

Results

General Classification after stage 20

LA PLANCHE FRANCE SEPTEMBER 19 Arrival Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates White Best Young Jersey during the 107th Tour de France 2020 Stage 20 a 362km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m ITT TDF2020 LeTour on September 19 2020 in La Planche France Photo by Christophe Ena PoolGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Pogacar takes the yellow jersey, the white jersey, and also the polka-dot jersey. Unsurprisingly, he was the fastest rider on the Planche, and so took the maximum 10 points, while Carapaz wasn't in the top six and so didn't take any.

Pogacar, at 21, is the second youngest winner of the Tour - after Henri Cornet all the way back in 1904.

Pogacar is the sixth rider to snatch yellow in a penultimate-day time trial, after Cadel Evans from Andy Schleck in 2011, Floyd Landis from Oscar Pereiro in 2006 (although that jersey soon had to be handed back), Greg Lemond from Claudio Chiappucci in 1990, Stephen Roche from Pedro Delgado in 1987, and Charly Gaul from Vito Favero in 1958.

Pogacar speaks

And now let's hear from Roglic

Full results and plenty of photos in our stage report page. 

LA PLANCHE FRANCE SEPTEMBER 19 Arrival Primoz Roglic of Slovenia and Team Jumbo Visma Yellow Leader Jersey Disappointment during the 107th Tour de France 2020 Stage 20 a 362km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m ITT TDF2020 LeTour on September 19 2020 in La Planche France Photo by Sebastien Nogier PoolGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Here's reaction from a delighted and emotional Richie Porte, who finishes on the Tour de France podium.

Pogacar in yellow

Sporza grabbed a word with Van Aert

Let's have a little look at where that yellow jersey was won and lost. 

Was it a Roglic implosion or a Pogacar madness? 

LA PLANCHE FRANCE SEPTEMBER 19 Richie Porte of Australia and Team Trek Segafredo during the 107th Tour de France 2020 Stage 20 a 362km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m ITT TDF2020 LeTour on September 19 2020 in La Planche France Photo by Stuart FranklinGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

We have reaction from both Wout Van Aert and Tom Dumoulin in this story. They're both shell-shocked. 

I used to hate penultimate-day time trials, but now I'm not so sure. 

Tomorrow, we head to Paris. Barring accident, Pogacar will be crowned winner of the 2020 Tour de France, after the sprinters have the final say on the Champs Elysées.

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