Stage 20: Modane to Alpe d’Huez
The final climb of this year’s race needs little introduction and neither, in truth do the other Alpine ascents packed into the 110km penultimate stage.
Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Alpe d’Huez – stage 20 of this year’s race has the potential to be one of the most iconic in the Tour’s history, with the 21 hairpins of the latter set to provide a stunning finale.
Riders will start climbing the Col du Telegraphe after just 14 kilometres of racing, with the 11.9km ascent boasting average gradients of 7.1 per cent.
In truth, however, it is just the appetiser for the even more brutal Col du Galibier – after a moderate opening, if an Alpine ascent can ever be described in such a way, the Galibier kicks fiercely to the summit at 2,645m up.
Once the 17.7km ascent, with average gradients of 6.9 per cent, has been tackled it is then a rapid descent and fight for position ahead of those 21 hairpins.
The winner of stage 20 could well be the rider who wins overall and it sure to be – in terms of both atmosphere and spectacle – an unforgettable stage.
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