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How is Mark Cavendish doing? How close was he to the time cut on the mountainous stage 20? Read Barry Ryan’s account of the Astana rider’s Saturday, and what the team did to recognise his 35th Tour stage win.
Mark Cavendish survives the Alps to ensure his final Tour de France will end in Nice
Read what Remco Evenepoel had to say about his attack with 4.5km to go and the failed plan to make up time to Jonas Vingegaard.
Jonas Vingegaard consolidated his hold on second place overall, finishing 7 seconds behind Tadej Pogačar on the mountaintop finish, and more importantly, put 46 seconds into third-placed Remco Evenepoel. After the finish, the Dane admitted, “I felt better than yesterday. Friday was one of my worst days on the bike.”
‘More than a stage win, I wanted more time’ – Jonas Vingegaard rebounds hard at Tour de France
Check out our race report and full results:
Here’s Carapaz, who went down fighting and at least secured the polka-dots.
Here’s Jonas Vingegaard, second on the day and second overall.
“I felt super good when Remco attacked, and decided that the second time he attacks I will counter-attack, and that’s what I did. Then I was riding more to put more time into him rather than going for the stage today. He’s the best time triallist in the world so you never know [tomorrow]. Of course, three minutes sounds like a lot but last year I took 1:40. You can easily lose a lot of time. I’m happy I got almost a minute more. One more day and I’ll do everything I can to keep this second place.”
On Pogačar sitting on his wheel and then taking the sprint: “Everyone has their tactics. I don’t judge anyone on their tactics. He was sitting more on. i think I’d probably do the same in his situation. He didn’t need to ride, he already has five minutes on me. It’s just how it is. I’m just happy with how I rode today, how I recovered from yesterday. To be honest, I felt really bad, completely empty, so to bounce back like this is really nice.”
This was Vingegaard and Pogačar on the final climb.
On this form, Pogačar is arguably the favourite for tomorrow’s race-ending time trial, which climbs out of Monaco and then descends to Nice. It would make for an extraordinary sixth stage win, matching his tally from his victorious Giro d’Italia in May.
“I think tomorrow can still be dangerous so I will try and come safely into Nice. I can enjoy a bit more the crowds tomorrow, I think,” Pogačar says.
Then again, he said he wouldn’t try and win this one. At this point, he seems to find it harder to lose races than win them.
Let’s hear from the winner
“I enjoyed it very much. It didn’t go as we planned, but I couldn’t be happier with that – another stage win. It’s just one more day, and tomorrow I think I’m going to enjoy it as well,” says Tadej Pogačar.
“I was really surprised how the race exploded on the Col de Braus,” he adds. “Our guys did a super good job, we came all together. Then Soler went in the breakaway, which was good for us. We tried to take it easy to bring guys to the final to have a group ride to the final climb, but Soudal decided to try and take some time on Jonas I guess, or win the stage, which played into my hands.”
On this five stage wins: “If you told me this before the Tour I would not have believed you. It’s out of this world actually.”
On Vingegaard: “He had some tough days and today he showed he’s not easy to crack and is a real fighter. He gave everything today and was super strong.”
Stage 20 results
Evenepoel crossed the line in fourth place, 53 seconds down on Pogačar, who ended up gapping Vingegaard by a staggering seven seconds in the sprint.
The winner’s shot
Carapaz takes third place at 23 seconds.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) wins stage 20 of the Tour de France
No contest really, he soars clear to collect his fifth stage win of this Tour de France.
Pogačar opens the taps! 150m to go and he’s immediately clear.
Track sprint coming up. Pogačar looks over his shoulder repeatedly.
Pogačar comes through and hits the front in the final 400m.
Will Vingegaard lead out Pogačar all the way to the top? He’s looking really strong today but Pogačar has done so much less work, and possesses the better sprint.
Carapaz is losing several bike lengths now. We’re heading for a two-up sprint between Pogačar and Vingegaard.
1km to go
Into the final 1000 metres we go. Vingegaard still on the front, Carapaz losing the wheel!
Vingegaard still on the front. Pogačar sitting pretty behind. Carapaz fighting in third wheel.
Mas is dropped with 1800m to go. Carapaz still there.
Vingegaard doesn’t really need much more time on Evenepoel. It’s 25 seconds here and was already almost two minutes at the start of the day. But he remains resolutely on the front driving this on, rather than playing cagey for the stage.
Carapaz and Mas manage to slot into the wheels and hold on.
Vingegaard and Pogačar reach Carapaz and Mas with 2.5km to go
Mas responds beautifully once again. Both riders look really strong here. A shame it’ll come to nothing.
Carapaz rips it again, for one last time. He could look back and see the yellow jersey before launching that one.
Evenepoel is 15 seconds back.
Pogačar does a short turn but Vingegaard is soon back on the front. 25 seconds to the leaders and it’s hard to see anything but a fifth Pogačar stage win loading here.
4km from the top and the leading duo have just 35 seconds in hand over the top GC duo!
Pogačar sits in Vingegaard’s wheel. It looks like he is asked for a turn but that’ll be a no.
Evenepoel’s plan has backfired, but there was no shame or any real price to pay in trying. Vingegaard is a different beast to yesterday and he pushes on up the mountain.
Evenepoel is dropped! Wow.
Vingegaard responds well once more, and counter-attacks!!
Evenepoel attacks again!
Carapaz attacks now! Once again he backs off before hitting his rival with a huge out of the saddle surge.
5km to go now and the gap dips below the one-minute mark as Almeida continues the charge. Mas gives it a big acceleration but they’re losing ground now.
Jorgenson is dropped from the GC group.
Four left in there: Almeida, Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel.
Almeida brings the gap down to 1:12 with just under 6km remaining.
Landa falls away and that must be music to the ears of Carapaz and Mas – who’s going to set pace now? Well, Joao Almeida, that’s who. The UAE man is setting a strong tempo and is he going to set this up for yet another Pogačar stage win?
Almeida, Jorgenson, and Landa come back as the trio ease up. Vingegaard looked good there – it doesn’t look like he’ll crack today.
Vingegaard is immediately alive to it. Pogačar follows along and the trio are away.
Evenepoel attacks!
The Belgian makes his move around 8km from the top.
Mas brings it back with apparent ease.
Carapaz attacks!
The polka-dot jersey drops off the wheel slightly then hits his rival with a huge acceleration.
90 seconds is the gap now half-way up this final climb, with 7.5km to the finish line at the summit. At this rate, the GC favourites will contest stage honours once again.
Landa’s turn has whacked the gap to the break down to 1:42.
GC group in order: Landa, Evenepoel, Vingegaard, Pogačar, Almeida, Jorgenson.
Landa is scorching this. Suddenly only six riders are left in the GC group!
Ciccone drops as well.
Buitrago dropped from the GC group.
Immediate answer. Yes. Landa comes through for Quick-Step now. That’s Evenepoel’s last man.
The gap goes back out to 2:25. Is Hirt fading?
Just 12 riders left in the GC group. Still Hirt on the front. The gap is 2:15 with just over 10km to go.
Bardet is dropped again as Carapaz and Mas open the taps again.
The break is blown apart 11km from the top. Bardet is clawing his way back.
Carapaz and Mas go clear!
Stuyven is finally dropped now. Just under 12km to the top.
Soler is back! Surreal.
Rodríguez is 6th overall, 1:42 ahead of Adam Yates (UAE), 4:16 up on Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech), and just over five minutes up on Matteo Jorgenson (Visma) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek).
Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos) – who was in trouble from the very first climb – is dropped from the GC group.
Tratnik pulls off the break. He has done a lot of work for Kelderman and he’s handing over now.
20 riders are left in the bunch, and Hirt is really lifting it now.
Van Wilder is done. Jan Hirt takes over for Quick-Step. Gap 2:45 now.
Tratnik is pushing the pace and Stuyven is still hanging on. Remarkable ride from the Belgian.
Geniets is the next man distanced from the break. They’re not hanging about now.
Van Wilder takes the peloton onto the final climb. Quick-Step still have two men left once he’s done.
Armirail is the first rider dropped from the break. Soler is back dangling off the back – and this time it doesn’t look like a bluff.
Final climb begins
The breakaway tick off the small section of flat and they now hit the Couillole. They do so with a lead of 2:55. Here we go!
The Col de la Couillole was used in last year’s Paris-Nice, where Pogačar responded to an opening Vingegaard attack and then put him under big pressure before winning the final dash for the line at the top. He’d win three stages and the overall in that race but would bow to Vingegaard in the Tour de France later in the year.
We’re just 5km away from the foot of the Col de la Couillole, which looks like this
Into the final 25km and the stage hangs in the balance. The final climb of the Col de la Couillole is long and tough and a big lifting of pace + attacks from the GC men could yet take this stage away from the breakaway, which will hit the final climb as a group of 10 but will surely split before long.
The breakaway are smashing this descent and their lead has grown back out to 3:15 over a peloton where Quick-Step aren’t wanting to take so many risks.
Van Wilder leads the peloton over the top of the climb for Quick-Step. They’ve brought the gap down to 2:45. This stage is very much in the balance.
Mas takes over from Carapaz and attacks the descent. 20km downhill now before we take on our final climb.
Carapaz nudges forward, accelerates out of the saddle, and takes them over the top. He wants, but doesn’t need, the maximum KOM points, and while no one’s fighting him for them, this might be a little push of the pace to get things moving again.
Tratnik, who has Visma teammate Kelderman with him, pushes the break on in the final kilometre of the Colmiane. Loads of fans here.
Armirail gets back in as the pace eases again in the break. The bigger riders like Geniets and Stuyven are still here and their advantage comes down to 3:10.
Soler is quickly caught, but his attack as shed Armirail from the group.
The Spaniard was fighting with the bike, desperately calling for his team car. He looked done. But he shoots out the front of the break. Comical stuff.
Soler attacks!!
Epic bluffing.
2.5km to the top of the Colmiane for our breakaway and their advantage has been cut to 3:30.
Soler is struggling slightly, dangling off the back of the break, which is otherwise still together.
Ilan Van Wilder takes over for Quick-Step. He’s a strong climber and should lift the pace. Evenepoel also still has Jan Hirt and Mikel Landa in front of him.
Moscon still on the front as Quick-Step lead the peloton onto the climb. They’re 3:55 down so the gap has been stable enough for a while, but where will it go from here?
In the break the accelerations come almost immediately. Mas is keen here. Carapaz, Kelderman, and Bardet are up with him.
44km to go
We’re through the intermediate sprint and it’s something of an irrelevance here (Stuyven leads them through) but does mark the gate to the Col de la Colmiane. We’ve already been going uphill for a while, but here starts the official ascent of 7.5km at an average gradient of 7.1%
And here’s a shot of the peloton
Here’s Enric Mas on the front of the breakaway
A reminder that Evenepoel is 1:58 down on Vingegaard overall. He can reasonably expect to take some time back in tomorrow’s time trial but will need to deal a really heavy blow here to set that up.
Yesterday he had Vingegaard suffering in his wheel all the way up to Isola 2000. Can he drop him today?
Moscon continues his turn and lifts it a little. The gap comes down to below the four-minute mark and it does indeed look like Evenepoel wants to take a pop at Vingegaard today.
A reminder of our stage profile. We’re on our way up to the green badge of the intermediate sprint. From there two tough climbs that will be familiar from recent editions of Paris-Nice.
The answer to our previous question is that yes, Soudal Quick-Step are pressing on with this. They’re not doing damage on this false flat, but they’re still riding a solid tempo and the gap is stable at 4:25.
Powless didn’t make it and now the road is tilting uphill he slips away. Back out to over a minute now and he blows a kiss to the cameras. Day done.
The road rises again as the descent ends and we begin the approach to the penultimate climb, the Col de la Colmiane. It’s a long uphill drag that’ll take us through the day’s intermediate sprint before we start the climb proper.
Quick-Step continue to lead the peloton as they head downhill. They’ve slipped back to 4:22, but we’ll see if they continue the effort onto the next climb.
Powless is making a good go of this descent. He has closed to within 35 seconds of the leaders. He doesn’t look to have his best climbing legs today but he could yet play a role for Carapaz.
69km to go
Gianni Moscon leads the line of five Quick-Step riders on the front of the bunch as they head over the summit of the Col de Turini. They have brought the gap down to 4:11, so they’ve shaved off just under half a minute.
We wondered whether Evenepoel might try and apply pressure on Vingegaard today, and he has certainly sent his men to the fore to make the last few minutes of this climb difficult.
Change in the peloton.
Soudal Quick-Step take over from UAE and raise the pace. They’re still 4:30 behind.
No. Carapaz hits out with a little more eagerness now, not wanting to be burnt twice, but no one challenges him. Another 10 points added to his collection and that’s the polka-dot jersey sewn up beyond all doubt now.
We’re nearing the top of the climb now. Carapaz is poised. Will Visma flick him again?!
And as I write that Champoussin suffers a mechanical. Curtains for him now, you’d think.
Contact up front
Just over a kilometre from the top of the Col de Turini, Stuyven, Geniets, and Johannessen join the lead group to make it 10 out front.
Powless is a minute back, Peters and Champoussin are now together at 2:30, and the bunch are at 4:45.
Stuyven, Geniets, and Johannessen continue to make inroads, and contrary to my earlier suggestions, it looks like they’ll join the leaders, who are riding within themselves for the time being.
Tim Wellens is on the front for UAE and they’ve let another 10 seconds slip, but that’s not a lot in the space of 3km. They’re holding this at a distance in which it’s feasible the winner could still come from the peloton (ie Pogačar).
A nice shot of the hairpins on the previous climb, and you can make out the yellow jersey in what was an extremely fragmented group.
78km to go
In the chase group, Peters and Powless have been dropped. Johannessen nearly takes himself out as he half-wheels Stuyven, who apologises but is riding a hell of a race today. He’s not a climber but he’s looking very strong as he propels the group onwards. Geniets isn’t a climber either but is also looking very good. They’ve reduced the gap to the front to 1:15.
Soler is contributing to the break. The final 6.5km of the Turini will tell us more but it looks like UAE might let this drift out.
Soler is the one with the excuse to sit on here, as UAE lead the peloton, where they’re holding it at 4:30.
An exchange of words between Tratnik and Carapaz, and now things do settle down, with Tratnik doing a more traditional turn and the others coming through now.
There’s no cohesion in this newly formed lead group. Tratnik, who has been dragged up there by the others, launches an acceleration.
Contact up front.
As suggested the front two groups merge to make a lead group of seven. We still have a chase…
Read Nore:As it happened: Tadej Pogačar dominant for fifth Tour de France stage win on Col de la