STAGE 20
The time trial in stage 20 stands in stark contrast to stage 4's time trial. For one thing, this test (at 33 miles) is almost twice as long, but more importantly, this stage comes at the end of the most grueling sporting event on the planet. Tour riders take a serious beating over three weeks of racing.
A stage like this might ordinarily play to the strength of powerful time-trial specialists, but at this point in the war of attrition it's the overall contenders--the men who can best endure 3 weeks of suffering--who are likely to shine. Race tactics for the general classification contenders are as simple as they come in this time trial: go hard. The overall standings usually aren't contested on the last stage to Paris, so if there are small time gaps separating the contenders, expect high drama in this final race against the clock.
MORE TOUR de FRANCE MAPS
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
Stage 5 |
Stage 6 |
Stage 7 |
Stage 8 |
Stage 9 |
Stage 10 |
Stage 11 |
Stage 12 |
Stage 13 |
Stage 14 |
Stage 15 |
Stage 16 |
Stage 17 |
Stage 18 |
Stage 19 |
Stage 20 |
Stage 21
Google Earth Flyover: 2008 Tour de France
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