Today was the last opportunity for Nairo Quintana (Movistar) to try and drop Chris Froome (Team Sky) and take over the yellow jersey. 160 riders kined up at the start of the short stage in Modane, with Alexandre Geniez (FDJ) attacking from the gun. He was soon joined by Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale-Garmin) Lars Bak (Lotto-Soudal) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).
Their lead reached a maximum of four minutes. Behind, Movistar made a move on the Col de la Croix de Fer. Alejandro Valverde was the first to attack the yellow jersey with 3km left to climb, and Nairo Quintana did so too one kilometer further. Chris Froome was left isolated but managed to get back to the Movistar duo at the start of the descent.
With 50 kilometres remaining, another group went off the front containing Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Winner Anacona (Movistar), Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin), Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Ruben Plaza and José Serpa (Lampre). Geniez led at the bottom of Alpe d’Huez with a lead of two minutes over the nine chasers and the peloton a further two minutes behind.
Pinot and Hesjedal made it up to Geniez, while Valverde and Quintana started attacking Froome with 11 kms remaining. Quintana managed to get clear and got across to Anacona who worked for him for a few kilometres. Quintana then pushed on alone and looked like he might catch Pinot who was up front leading the stage.
However, Pinot had enough in the tank to win the stage with Quintana taking second 18 seconds down. The Team Sky duo of Wout Poels and Richie Porte helped to limit Froome’s losses and ensure he hung on to the yellow jersey. Going into the final stage, he leads Quintana by 1’12”.
Summary – Stage 20 (Modane Valfréjus > Alpe d… by tourdefrance_en
