2014 Tour de France Stage 20 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 20 of the 2014 Tour de France! Our live time-trial times and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
This year, the Tour organisers incorporated only one individual time trial into the race – the first time that’s happened since the 1950s. They’re hoping that the time gaps created over the preceding three weeks across three mountain ranges and undulating stages will be small enough to make the 54km time trial crucial to the outcome of the final stage in Paris.
The localtion of this stage, colloquially dubbed ‘Dordognshire’ thanks to the large population of ex-pat Brits living in the region, should mean that Union flags are a regular feature along the route.
The parcours is described by the ASO as more tuned to riders in great form than the true TT specialists such as Tony Martin, Fabian Cancellara and Bradley Wiggins. The route starts in flat farmland before turning into hillier terrain closer to Pe?rigueux. Riders such as Sylvain Chavanel and Alberto Contador – who have already scoped out the stage – could perform well.
Weather, or rather temperature, could be a factor. The last time a TT was run between these two towns – in 1994 – the mercury rose to 30 ?C in dead still conditions. Still, if Froome’s form holds for long enough, he’ll probably carry the day.
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