Egan Bernal poised to win first Tour de France as Nibali claims shortened Stage 20
Ineos holds top two spots on GC heading into Paris
The GC competition of the 2019 Tour de France sputtered to its completion on Saturday as yellow jersey wearer Egan Bernal wasn’t put under any pressure from his rivals on the landslide-shortened 20th stage, but Julian Alaphillipe was dumped from the podium. Vincenzo Nibali soloed to his sixth career Tour stage victory, attacking from a breakaway that included Michael Woods. Despite the thrills and chaos of the 106th edition, the race will have a predictable conclusion: Sky/Ineos with another Tour de France victory, seven in eight years via four different riders. For the second year running and the third time in eight years, Sky/Ineos will have two men on the final podium in Paris.
Grande Nibali! #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/KCmA3810Zz
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) July 27, 2019
The Truncated Course
After yesterday’s shortened-on-the-fly stage, Tour organizers made the decision late Friday that the first half of Stage 20 would be removed because of landslides on the Cormet Roselend. Therefore, Saturday would be 59-km in length, with the ascent of Val Thorens, 33.4 km of 5.4 percent, the final summit finish.
#TDF2019 – Prudhomme explained that there were three landslides on original route. This is why Stage 20 has to be shortened.
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) July 27, 2019
Cancelled? More cuts?
Before the race started in Albertville there was concern that weather conditions on Val Thorens was too wretched and that the stage might be cancelled or the climb cut short 11-km.
Race director Thierry Gouvenou has just told us that the stage is going to go ahead #TDF2019
— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) July 27, 2019
France TV just reporting the stage migh finish 11 km lower on Val Thorens. The decision will be taken when they are at the foot of the climb. #TDF2019
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 27, 2019
Here was the top-5 overnight:
1) Egan Bernal (Colombia/Ineos) 78:00:42
2) Julian Alaphilippe (France/Deceuninck-Quick Step) +0:45
3) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Ineos) +1:03
4) Steven Kruijswijk (The Netherlands/Jumbo-Visma) +1:15
5) Emanuel Buchmann (Germany/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:42
The Breakaway
Once more Michael Woods was in the day’s breakaway, another big one that reached the foot of the climb with a 2:00 lead. Kruijswijk’s Jumbo-Visma led the peloton looking to vault the Dutchman onto his first Grand Tour podium.
Woods took off on the lower slopes with Nibali, Ilnur Zakarin and Tony Gallopin.
? @IlnurZakarin and @vincenzonibali attacked, finding themselves at the head of the course, but were followed by @rusty_woods and @tonygallopin.
? Zakarin et Nibali ont attaqué, suivis par Woods et Gallopin.#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/XNsjrGFkJV— Tour de Franceâ„¢ (@LeTour) July 27, 2019
Val Thorens
Richie Porte was the first top-10 rider to succumb to the yellow jersey group’s pace. French champion Warren Barguil was looking to nick his place. Then the inevitable occurred: after an inspiring Tour de France Julian Alaphillipe cracked and dropped away from the peloton.
Alaphilippe finally cracks. 16 days behind schedule.
— How The Race Was Wonâ„¢ (@Cyclocosm) July 27, 2019
C'est fini, Loulou. #TDF2019
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 27, 2019
Nibali went solo with 12-km remaining. Simon Yates attacked from the GC group, drawing Barguil and Marc Soler. Then Nairo Quintana made a dig. None of the moves lasted. With 5-km to go, Nibali only had a 30-second lead. The only excitement in the last couple of kilometres was Mikel Landa attacking within the last kilometre to try to pluck the victory from the Shark of Messina.
Nibali hung on for the win. Alaphilippe dropped down to fifth from second on GC. Woods finished 36th on the day, moving up five spots on GC to 31st, which is his third best Grand Tour spot out of five races.
Feel for Nairo Quintana, as Egan Bernal is about to become the first Colombian Tour de France winner. Last year’s titlist, Bernal’s teammate Geraint Thomas, will be the runner up and Kruijswijk third.
Sunday is the procession into Paris for the final sprinter’s clash on the Champs-Élysées.
2019 Tour de France Stage 20
1) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Bahrain-Merida) 1:51:53
2) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +0:10
3) Mikel Landa (Spain/Movistar) +0:14
36) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) +5:06
59) Hugo Houle (Canada/Astana) +8:55
2019 Tour de France GC
1) Egan Bernal (Colombia/Ineos) 79:52:52
2) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Ineos) +1:11
3) Steven Kruijswijk (The Netherlands/Jumbo-Visma) +1:31
4) Emanuel Buchmann (Germany/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:56
5) Julian Alaphilippe (France/Deceuninck-Quick Step) +3:45
31) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) +1:20:40
82) Hugo Houle (Canada/Astana) +2:56:11