ALPE D’HUEZ, France — Slovenian cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar is one step away from etching his name into Tour de France history, finishing safely through the grueling penultimate 20th stage on Saturday to hold a commanding lead heading into Sunday’s iconic final finish in Paris.
Pogacar, who entered the alpine stage with a steady advantage over the field, carries a 6-and-a-half-minute lead over Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel into the final showcase day of racing. Barring an unforeseen disaster, he will become only the fifth rider in the 110-plus year history of the race to claim five overall Tour titles, joining cycling legends Eddy Merckx of Belgium, Spain’s Miguel Indurain, and French greats Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault.
The 20th stage proved one of the race’s most punishing tests: a 171-kilometer alpine journey featuring three of cycling’s hardest-rated hors catégorie climbs plus an additional category 1 ascent, with a total of 66 kilometers of climbing before the finish in Alpe d’Huez. Riders, already worn down from three weeks of continuous racing, conquered the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, and Col de Sarenne before the hilly run-in to the line.
It was Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz who claimed the stage victory, his second stage win of this year’s Tour and third of his career. Carapaz outpaced American rider Sepp Kuss in the final kilometers, after Kuss nearly crashed out on a downhill turn with just five kilometers remaining. Evenepoel also surged past Kuss in the final sprint to take second place on the stage.
Carapaz, who fought from the breakaway to lock up the polka-dot jersey for the race’s best climber, called the win a surreal achievement. “There was a moment when I couldn’t believe what was happening,” he said after the finish. “This Tour de France has been incredible, with all the spectators and all the support I’ve received from Ecuador, where they’ll be jumping for joy.” He added that Kuss proved an extremely tough competitor: “It was really, really tough. Sepp, in particular, was a very tough nut to crack.”
Kuss’ near-disaster came when he mistimed a downhill turn, lost control of his bike, and nearly careened over a roadside concrete barrier, only saved by protective netting that cushioned his fall. Carapaz capitalized on the mistake to push ahead for the win, saying he felt the result was earned after a grueling three weeks of racing. “It was absolutely brilliant to win here and in a distinctive jersey,” Carapaz said. “I think I deserve it, because I’ve fought so hard in this Tour de France.”
For Pogacar, the day was focused on protecting his overall lead rather than chasing another stage victory, unlike his aggressive attack on Friday’s 19th stage. His top priority was securing third place in the overall rankings for his UAE Team Emirates teammate Isaac Del Toro, a young Mexican rider who now holds a lead of more than two minutes over France’s Paul Seixas, who sits in fourth. Pogacar, who gifted Del Toro a stage victory on Stage 2 of this year’s race, said prioritizing his teammate was a privilege. “It’s been an honor to ride for Isaac today,” he said. “Crossing the finish line together with him has been memorable.”
Pogacar has already claimed five stage wins in this year’s Tour, bringing his all-time Tour stage victory total to 26. To beat British sprint legend Mark Cavendish’s record of 35 career stage wins, Pogacar would need to compete in at least two more editions of the race, with Eddy Merckx holding 34 and Bernard Hinault 28. When asked if he would chase another stage win on Sunday, Pogacar said he would avoid unnecessary risks but would seize an opportunity if it arises. “Let’s see how I feel tomorrow. I won’t take any risks,” he said. “But if I have good legs and I don’t have to take too many big risks, I’ll try to claim victory tomorrow.”
Reflecting on his run so far, Pogacar said he has turned in a strong performance, with top rival Jonas Vingegaard forced to exit the race early after a crash. “I have done a really good Tour. Some of our competitors had bad luck,” he said. “We made it through with the team and now there is just one last show left.”
Sunday’s final stage has been modified to support emergency response efforts for ongoing wildfires in southwestern France. Originally a 133-kilometer route starting in Thoiry west of Paris, the final day has been shortened to 89 kilometers and relocated to start within Paris itself, to reduce strain on emergency and security services that have been redeployed to support wildfire response. Security forces originally assigned to the Tour’s final stage have been moved to the affected wildfire regions. “The prefect of police and the director of the Tour de France commend the dedication of all those involved in fighting the wildfires and express their full solidarity with the affected communities,” the Tour organization said in an official statement. This is not the first modified stage of this year’s race: Stage 9 was also shortened amid an extreme heatwave.
Following the men’s race conclusion, the 9-stage Tour de France Femmes will kick off on August 1 in Lausanne, Switzerland, concluding in Nice on August 9. Last year, French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt claimed victory on her debut in the race.