Tour de France 2024 Favourites stage 20: Attackers in the Alps

foto: Cor VosThe 20th stage of Le Tour is quite similar to stage 19, although it's even tougher. Four climbs packed into 132.8 kilometres add up to 4,600 metres of climbing. There are only two modes on the route from Nice to the Col de la Couillole: climbing and descending, with the latter dominating. (Slideshow route/profile)

The race starts with a gentle uphill, followed by an unclassified climb of 4.6 kilometres at 5.2%, but that’s just shadowplay, as the sledgehammer is brought out soon enough.

Without any descent, the riders continue onto the Col de Braus, a climb of 10 kilometres at 6.6%. Back in the valley, the Col de Turini adds 20.7 kilometres at 5.7% to the fatigue. It’s the longest climb of the day, while the average gradient is biased by a relatively easy first half.

A long descent leads to another unclassified climb, this one is 1.3 kilometres at 6%. The route continues to ascend gently for 10 kilometres before transitioning into the Col de La Colmiane: 7.5 kilometres at 7.1%. At the summit, there are still 32.9 kilometres to go.

The riders then descend for over 20 kilometres to Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, at the base of the finishing climb. The Col de la Couillole is a beast of 15.7 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1%. Interestingly, this is the gradient for almost the entire climb, as the Couillole is remarkably consistent.

Pogacar said after taking his fourth stage win that his team will give the breakaway free rein.

Favourites 20th stage 2024 Tour de France

*** Richard Carapaz, Matteo Jorgenson, Simon Yates
** Romain Bardet, Enric Mas, Ben Healy, Wilco Kelderman
* Egan Bernal, Jai Hindley, David Gaudu, Adam Yates, João Almeida

Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2024 Tour de France.