two Frenchmen, including Thibaut Pinot, in the leading group

The last climbs of the Grande Boucle. On the eve of the arrival in Paris, the 20th stage of the Tour de France proposes a last toboggan ride in the Vosges on Saturday 22 July from 1.30pm on a route conducive to a major battle. He is already injured Carlos Rodriguez, fourth overall, crashed in a downhill bend. He managed to get up and walk away.. For his part, the Italian Giulio Ciccone consolidated his polka dot jersey by taking the lead at the top of the Alsace Ball. Thibaut Pinot, the regional of the stage, received a volcanic welcome from the public who flocked to support him. Supporters of him are hoping for a last stand, as this is his last mountain stage of the Tour before his retirement from the sport. They were delighted when he he returned alone to the lead group, with another Habs, Warren Barguil. Follow our live.

A compact stage. The riders will have to draw on their last resources to traverse a short stage (133.5km). The 20th stage will start at the foot of the Belfort lion and finish at the Markstein, touching the passes of the Ballon d’Alsace, the Croix des Moinats, the Grosse Pierre, the Schlucht, the Petit Ballon and the Platzerwasel. These are six climbs listed for a positive elevation gain of 3,500 meters over 133.5km of racing.

An explosive ending. The definitive explanation should take place in the last two climbs, the Petit Ballon (9.3km at 8.1% with very bumpy surfaces) and the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1km at 8.4%), a sequence covered in 2022 by the women’s Tour de France, before arriving on the Marktstein plateau.

Little suspense. If Jonas Vingegaard has almost ensured victory, he will have to be wary of the very technical descent of the Petit Ballon. For teams who haven’t tasted victory yet, this is their last chance to grab a win, unless they have a sprinter capable of winning on the Champs-Elysées.