The Tour de France enters its penultimate day, a 22.5-kilometre Time Trial on Stage 20 in Marseille as Chris Froome looks to all but wrap up a fourth yellow jersey. Join The Roar for live coverage and updates from 9:45pm (AEST).
After two days in the alpine region, Stage 19 was about as easy as the peloton could have asked for. Despite a strong headwind blowing, they let a 20-man breakaway go up the road and the peloton, led by Team Sky simply turned the pedals for 222.5 kilometres before crossing the line at a stroll.
Today’s Time Trial starts in the famous Orange velodrome in Marseille and is more or less flat with the exception of a climb up to the cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.
The climb takes the riders from sea level up to 116 metres over a distance of about two kilometres, and is reasonably steep, followed by an equally steep and technical descent.
As mentioned, the rest of the course is just about pancake flat. Starting from the velodrome, there are three 90-degree corners early in the piece, before they get onto the beach front with a 180-degree turn to loop back up the other side of the road.
Following that, the riders will follow the road along the coast, with a couple of sweeping corners, but nothing overly technical. This part of the course will be exposed to any sea-breeze and a change in conditions, which could only take minutes may influence the result of the race.
The ride back from the coast to the velodrome will be the opposite of the route out, with the riders coming back up the other side of the road. That means more 90-degree turns, and if the weather were to turn ugly it will be a difficult Time Trial to gauge for consistent effort.
Prediction
Primoz Roglic has been in good form throughout the race and will take the challenge to Martin today – still, it’s impossible to overlook the world champion. Vasil Kiryienka is also suited to the course with the climb, and should round out the top three.
In terms of the general classification, there is almost no intrigue for the top spot. Chris Froome is the best time trialist of the bunch, and he is already in yellow.
The battle for minor placings though, is far more interesting. Rigoberto Uran should rise up to snatch second from Romain Bardet, while the Frenchman may struggle to fend off a challenge from Froome’s teammate, Mikel Landa for the final spot on the podium in Paris.
Simon Yates holding the young rider classification is going to be tough as well – he is an ordinary time trialist, and Louis Meintjes is just 2:14 behind.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 20 from 9:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
James
Guest
With a French accent 'boo' does sound like 'Froome'
Eddie
Guest
The French booing of Froome was disappointing to say the least. You won't hear the Brits doing the same to forgeigners at the open this weekend. It wasn't an isolated few that were doing it. It shows what a shallow and jealous nation they are. When done Froomy - looking forward to another 2 wins to make you the greatest of all. Respect.
James
Guest
True, Uran is good enough at them. Cant really compare other GC contenders to someone like Froome who is brilliant at time trials but Bardet has to at least be ok at them, he gives away a couple of minutes in the time trials which is shocking. And he knows he does so i dont know what the plan was for him.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of Stage 20 at the 2017 Tour de France as Maciej Bodnar won the stage and Chris Froome all but secured his fourth crown in yellow. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. The Tour might feel over, but just ask Andre Greipel, Nacer Bouhanni and Michael Matthews what they think about that. The tour heads home to Paris tomorrow on the Champs-Elysees and there will be one hell of a sprint finish. You can join me, right here on The Roar from 12:40am (AEST) - that's Monday Morning in Australia - for live coverage of the final stage. We are going to be talking the race, the tribulations, the champagne will be flowing and we will have a look back over this year's, as well as a look at what's to come in 2017. The Vuelta, the World Championships, Il Lombardia. We are going to talk about it all, as well as having a look forward to 2018. So, do join me tomorrow for Stage 21 and plenty of cycling chat while the riders ceremonially head to Paris. Until then though, it's time to reflect on Chris Froome's heroics in Marseille. It's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 83:55:16 2. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) + 0:54 3. Romain Bardet (AG2R) + 2:20 4. Mikel Landa (Sky) + 2:21 5. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 3:05 6. Daniel Martin (Quick-Step) + 4:42 7. Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) + 6:14 8. Louis Meintjes (UAE) + 8:20 9. Alberto Contador (Trek) + 8:49 10. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) + 9:25
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP TEN 1. Maciej Bodnar (Bora) @ 28:15 2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) + 0:01 3. Chris Froome (Sky) + 0:06 4. Tony Martin (Katusha) + 0:14 5. Daryl Impey (Orica-Scott) + 0:20 6. Alberto Contador (Trek) + 0:21 7. Nikias Arndt (Sunweb) + 0:28 8. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) + 0:31 9. Stefan Kung (BMC) + 0:34 10. Sylvain Chavanel (BMC) + 0:37
Scott Pryde
Expert
Absolutely James, Although Uran has won a time trial at the Giro before. On his day, he is pretty good and he has shocked me 100% during the Tour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I believe there are - now that could be something, but I reckon there would be a breakaway up the road by that point.
James
Guest
That was insane, for 3rd and 4th. 1 second difference after 3 weeks. Bardet though is truly shocking in time trials. He has no real chance of winning the tour de france with his time trialling, he gives up minutes. Uran isnt great either but at least he is somewhat tolerable.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Are there time bonuses on the final day? Landa could try and grab a couple of seconds at the intermediate sprint!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full results to follow shortly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Haha quiet funny really. Bardet held onto that by the skin of his teeth. He took the final corner pretty aggressively, and in the end the second he saved sprinting out of it onto the downhill might have saved his podium spot.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's now confirmed. Froome in yellow by 54 seconds with Bardet at 2:20 and Landa 2:21. Barguil also drops to tenth with Contador moving up.
James
Guest
hahaha the french didnt know what to do with Froome only a few seconds behind Bardet, they were both cheering and booing at the same time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
MACIEJ BODNAR WINS STAGE 20!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Froome crosses a few seconds behind and he is the winner of the Tour de France. He finished the stage just six seconds off the pace in third place.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bardet out of the saddle and he is going to make it by ONE SECOND! Bardet sprinted out of the final corner, shot down the downhill ramp and then just got over in 30:18. Woah.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bardet and Froome both make it safely around the final corner.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bardet now with 40 seconds and still almost 500 metres. Froome is almost on his back wheel as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
750 metres in 60 seconds for Bardet.