ALPE D’HUEZ, France (AP) 鈥� Tadej Pogacar moved to within touching distance of a record-equaling fifth title after finishing safely in the penultimate stage on Saturday.
The Slovenian star heads into Sunday’s showcase finish in Paris with a lead of 6 1/2 minutes over Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel.
Barring mishap, Pogacar will join Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only men to win five Tours.
鈥淚 have done a really good Tour. Some of our competitors had bad luck,鈥� said Pogacar, whose main rival Jonas Vingegaard . 鈥淲e made it through with the team and now there is just one last show left.鈥�
The 20th stage was won by for his second win at this year’s race and third overall. The Ecuadorian rider overtook near the end as the American almost crashed out. Evenepoel also surged past Kuss near the line to take second place.
“There was a moment when I couldn鈥檛 believe what was happening,” Carapaz said. “This Tour de France has been incredible, with all the spectators and all the support I鈥檝e received from Ecuador, where they鈥檒l be jumping for joy.鈥�
Pogacar chose not to launch one of his attacks like on .
Stage 20 was a mammoth 171-kilometer alpine trek featuring three hors cat茅gorie climbs 鈥� the hardest category 鈥� and one category 1 climb.
After three weeks in the saddle, weary riders tackled hors cat茅gorie ascents of Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne, and the one cat 1 climb of Col du T茅l茅graphe, making for 66 kilometers of hard climbing in total before a hilly finish to Alpe d鈥橦uez.
Carapaz rode from the front in order to secure the polka-dot jersey awarded to the Tour’s best climber. Pogacar’s yellow jersey group was hanging back when Carapaz, Kuss, Spaniard Juan Ayuso and Australian Jai Hindley went over the Galibier together.
Pogacar’s priority was ensuring his AE Team Emirates teammate Isaac Del Toro finished third in the rankings, and the Mexican rider is now more than two minutes clear of Frenchman Paul Seixas in fourth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an honor to ride for Isaac today,” said Pogacar, who on Stage 2. 鈥淐rossing the finish line together with him has been memorable.鈥�
Ayuso was dropped as the former Spanish Vuelta winner , Hindley and Carapaz 鈥� both former winners 鈥� battled for supremacy in the Sarenne pass.
鈥淚t was really, really tough,鈥� Carapaz said. “Sepp, in particular, was a very tough nut to crack.鈥�
An exhausted-looking Kuss lost control of his bike going downhill when he mistimed a turn with five kilometers left and almost tumbled over a roadside concrete barrier. Some netting cushioned him.
Carapaz rode swiftly past him to victory.
鈥淚t was absolutely brilliant to win here and in a distinctive jersey,鈥� Carapaz said. 鈥淚 think I deserve it, because I鈥檝e fought so hard in this Tour de France.鈥�
Pogacar has won five stages on this year鈥檚 race and 26 overall, meaning he would likely need to compete in at least two more Tours to beat British sprinter Merckx won and Hinault 28.
He may go for another stage win on Sunday.
鈥淟et鈥檚 see how I feel tomorrow. I won鈥檛 take any risks,” Pogacar said. “But if I have good legs and I don鈥檛 have to take too many big risks, I鈥檒l try to claim victory tomorrow.鈥�
Shortened stage
Sunday鈥檚 final stage starts shortly before 6 p.m. on an 89-kilometer route featuring an uphill dash through the district in Paris and finishing on the Champs-脡lys茅es.
The stage was shortened from 133 kilometers and its starting point in Thoiry, west of the capital, was changed to Paris so as to reduce pressure on emergency services in the southwest.
Security forces initially mobilized for Paris have been redeployed to help response efforts elsewhere.
鈥淭he 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 said in a statement.
Stage 9 was also shortened amid a heatwave.
The nine-stage women鈥檚 Tour starts in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Aug. 1 and finishes in Nice on Aug 9. Frenchwoman won on debut last year.
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