Le Tour 100 – Stage 20

Annecy to Annecy-Semnoz

Distance: 125 kilometers.

This is the final competitive stage, so there will be a lot of attacking. Although short, there are six climbs: a category 2, three category 3s, a category 1 and the summit finish on the Hors Catégorie Annecy-Semnoz. A summit finish doubles the points awarded for the climb.

The five principal contenders for the Polka Dots are Chris Froome [104], Pierre Rolland [103], Mikel Nieve [98], Nairo Quintana [97], and Christophe Riblon [93]. Riblon took the summit finish on the Alpe-d’Huez.

Pierre Rolland gave it his best shot and was leading up to the final climb, but today, Colombia’s Independence Day, belonged to the young rider from Tunja, Colombia, Nairo Quintana.

In taking his first stage win on the Tour, Quintana confirmed his hold on the White Jersey, moved up from third to second place in the General Classification, and became the ‘King of the Mountains’, winning the Polka Dots.

Chris Froome is still in Yellow, as he has been since his win on stage 8.

The only good news for Alberto Contador is that Saxo-Tinkoff didn’t lose their lead among the teams. He was pushed off the podium by Quintana and Joaquin Rodriguez, and is now in fourth.

Jens Voigt proved there is still life after 40, making a determined charge to the front, but he was reeled in.

Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 80h 49′ 33″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 011 ) [Green] 383 points
Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas ( Col – MOV – 128 ) [Polka Dot] 147 points
Andrew Talansky ( USA – GRS – 178 ) 10 [White]

Team: Saxo-Tinkoff ( TST – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas ( Col – MOV – 128 )
Combative: Jens Voigt ( Ger – RLT – 048 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 001 )
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas ( Col – MOV – 128 ) + 05′ 03″
3 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( Esp – KAT – 101 ) + 05′ 47″
4 Alberto Contador ( Esp – TST – 091 ) + 07′ 10″
5 Roman Kreuziger ( Cze – TST – 094 ) + 08′ 10″
6 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 164 ) + 12′ 25″
7 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – EUC – 063 ) + 13′ 00″
8 Alejandro Valverde ( Esp – MOV – 121 ) + 16′ 09″
9 Daniel Navarro ( Esp – COF – 139 ) + 16′ 35″
10 Andrew Talansky ( USA – GRS – 178 ) + 18′ 22″

The Rest of the Top 30:

11 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 153 ) + 19′ 42″
12 Mikel Nieve Iturralde ( Esp – EUS – 116 ) + 20′ 44″
13 Laurens Ten Dam ( Ned – BEL – 167 ) + 22′ 22″
14 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RLT – 047 ) + 24′ 21″
15 Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) + 27′ 25″
16 Michael Rogers ( Aus – TST – 098 ) + 27′ 34″
17 Daniel Moreno Fernandez ( Esp – KAT – 106 ) + 33′ 17″
18 Jan Bakelants ( Bel – RLT – 042 ) + 36′ 34″
19 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 006 ) + 39′ 41″
20 Andy Schleck ( Lux – RLT – 041 ) + 42′ 29″
21 José Serpa ( Col – LAM – 149 ) + 45′ 51″
22 John Gadret ( Fra – ALM – 086 ) + 46′ 43″
23 Igor Anton ( Esp – EUS – 111 ) + 48′ 26″
24 Pierre Rolland ( Fra – EUC – 051 ) + 52′ 12″
25 Peter Velits ( Svk – OPQ – 159 ) + 54′ 43″
26 Robert Gesink ( Ned – BEL – 162 ) + 55′ 08″
27 Rui Alberto Costa ( Por – MOV – 124 ) + 55′ 17″
28 Wouter Poels ( Ned – VCD – 201 ) + 56′ 30″
29 Arnold Jeannesson ( Fra – FDJ – 077 ) + 57′ 49″
30 Andreas Klöden ( Ger – RLT – 046 ) + 01h 03′ 26″

Note: Wikipedia has a simple article on the Mountain classification used on the Tour. The basic fact is that climbs fall into five types, with the four numbered types decreasing in difficulty as the numbers get larger, and then there is the Hors Catégorie, literally “without category”, which generally makes you look for an elevator or Sherpas.

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