Tour de France - Groves wins penultimate stage as Pogacar closes in on title defence

BBC News

a day ago

Update:
Date: 16:05 BST
Title: 'I suffered to the line and as a reward we get a Tour stage'
Content: Stage winner Kaden Groves said: "There are so many emptions to win here. The team, we came here with so many different plans with Jasper [Philipsen] and Mathieu [van der Poel].
"In the end, I get my own opportunities and they haven't gone the right way. But today I had super legs. I just suffered to the line and as a reward we get a Tour stage.
"The team gave me a free role in the last few days. We weren't sure if I should go for it today or wait until tomorrow. But when the rain falls, I always have a super feeling normally, in the cold weather. It's my first time winning solo - and it's in a Tour stage. Pretty incredible."
Update:
Date: 15:56 BST
Title: General classification after stage 20
Content:
Update:
Date: 15:41 BST
Title: Pogacar set to seal fourth Tour win after finishing unscathed
Content: There was a crash as the peloton rolled through to the finish but Tadej Pogacar was unscathed so the reigning champion will seal his fourth Tour title on Sunday.
The final day of the Tour is a processional stage, where traditionally the general classification leader is not challenged.
As he crossed the line, Pogacar even got a pat on the back from his great rival Jonas Vingegaard.
Update:
Date: 15:29 BST
Title: Stage 20 results
Content:
Update:
Date: 15:25 BST
Title: Post
Content: Kaden Groves is sobbing as he's congratulated at the finish.
Update:
Date: 15:24 BST
Title: Groves claims first Tour stage win
Content: Kaden Groves taps his chest and holds his arms aloft as he completes the trilogy of winning a stage on each of the three Grand Tour races.
Update:
Date: 2km to go
Title: Post
Content: Alpecin-Deceuninck's team car is right next to Kaden Groves, giving him some motivation for the finis - as if any was needed.
The Australian is set to become the Belgian team's third winner on this year's Tour, after Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel triumphed on the first two stages.
Update:
Date: 5km to go
Title: O'Connor gives up the chase
Content: The gap is now 48 seconds as Kaden Groves approaches Pontarlier.
Back in the peloton, compatriot Ben O'Connor has nothing left and is forced to accept he will relinquish a top-10 GC spot to Jordan Jegat.
They are more than six minutes back from Groves.
Update:
Date: 10km to go
Title: Post
Content: Kaden Groves is now 40 seconds clear of Frank van den Broek, with Jake Stewart having dropped back to be joined by Simone Velasco.
Update:
Date: 15km to go
Title: Groves takes lead
Content: Kaden Groves puts the pedal down, and Jake Stewart and Frank van den Broek just look at each other and let the Australian get away.
He builds a 25-second lead by the time he reaches the 15km mark.
Update:
Date: 20km to go
Title: Post
Content: It's all change at the front again.
Kaden Groves, Frank van den Broek and British rider Jake Stewart now lead the way.
Update:
Date: 22km to go
Title: Ouch! - Nasty falls for Gregoire & Romeo
Content: Romain Gregoire attacks on the downhill, before Ivan Romeo charges to the front.
And as the pair go into a wet turn, Romeo hits the deck and slides into the kerb.
A split-second after Romeo goes down, Gregoire follows suit, but at least he didn't get the double-whammy of slamming into the kerb too.
The Frenchman gets back on his bike but Spanish youngster Romeo is hurt.
Update:
Date: 24km to go
Title: Polka-dot jersey - Gregoire takes final climb
Content: Romain Gregoire is first over the summit and Kaden Groves accelerates over the top, followed by Simone Velasco, Frank van den Broek and Jake Stewart.
Update:
Date: 25km to go
Title: Post
Content: The chaser groups have joined Harry Sweeny on the slopes.
Ivan Romeo attacks but local favourite Romain Gregoire, being cheered on by fans on the climb, gets back to him.
Update:
Date: 27km to go
Title: Sweeny & Groves survive scare
Content: Hilly 184.2km stage, Nantua to Pontarlier
The leading riders are onto the final categorised climb of this year's Tour outside Paris.
It's a 2.5km ascent of Cote de Longeville, which has an average gradient of 5.5%.
Harry Sweeny and Kaden Groves slip on the wet climb but the Australian pair somehow manage to stay upright.
Update:
Date: 30km to go
Title: Post
Content: Pascal Eenkhoorn, Romain Gregoire, Frank van den Broek, Kaden Groves and Jake Stewart have closed to within 15 seconds of Harry Sweeny.
Jordan Jegat's group is 25 seconds further back, with Matteo Jorgenson and Tim Wellens on the charge behind them.
Update:
Date: 35km to go
Title: Post
Content: The chase group is down to five, including British rider Jake Stewart, and there's now four groups along the road between stage leader Harry Sweeny and the peloton.
It's all going off.
Update:
Date: 40km to go
Title: Post
Content: Ben O'Connor is pulling the bunch with Jayco AlUla team-mate Mauro Schmid in a bid to stop Jordan Jegat taking a top-10 GC spot off him.
Update:
Date: 45km to go
Title: Post
Content: The rain is coming down again, with Harry Sweeny leading by 40 seconds.
The gap to the bunch is now up to 5mins 15secs.
Update:
Date: 48km to go
Title: Vingegaard needs new bike
Content: More than four minutes back in the peloton, Jonas Vingegaard is racing back after stopping to take a new bike.
That gap means Jordan Jegat, who is now in the chase group, has gone above Ben O'Connor in the virtual GC standings.