All the cool kit from the greatest Tour time-trial since 1989
TOPSHOT - Team UAE Emirates rider Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young's white jersey rides during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
As predicted, Saturday's time trial at the 2020 Tour de France was one of the most fascinating of recent times. Not since Lemond beat Fignon on the final day at the 1989 Tour has a time trial caused such an earthquake at the sport’s biggest race.
The stage was won by Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates, who did what most people thought was impossible and beat his general classification rival Primož Roglič (who went into the stage leading the race by 57 seconds) by a minute and 56 seconds, catapulting him into the leader’s yellow jersey and securing the overall race victory.
Tour de France 2020: Time trial tech gallery - Michael Steele/Getty Images
Team UAE Emirates rider Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young's white jersey rides during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images) - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images
TOPSHOT - Team UAE Emirates rider Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young's white jersey rides during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Arrival / Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates / Celebration / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Bernard Papon - Pool/Getty Images) - Bernard Papon - Pool/Getty Images
Opting to change from his Colnago K-One time-trial bike to his Colnago V3Rs aero road bike at the foot of the final climb to La Planche des Belle Filles, he stormed up the 5.9km ascent in scintillating form.
Prompting immediate comparisons to the Cannibal, Pogačar won the mountains and young rider classifications as well, topping off a race that also included two other stage wins.
Not bad for his first Tour de France.
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Richie Porte of Australia and Team Trek - Segafredo / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
Team Trek rider Australia's Richie Porte competes during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images) - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images
Richie Porte also had a very good day, finishing third on the stage and securing a much-deserved podium finish at the Tour.
Porte rode a Trek Speed Concept time trial bike, with a PRO tri-spoke front wheel and re-badged Lightweight Autobahn rear disc wheel (Bontrager doesn't make a rear disc wheel), on the opening section, then switched to his Trek Emonda SLR for the final climb.
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Primoz Roglic of Slovenia and Team Jumbo - Visma Yellow Leader Jersey / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
Team Jumbo rider Slovenia's Primoz Roglic wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey rides during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images) - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images
TOPSHOT - Team Jumbo rider Slovenia's Primoz Roglic wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey rides during the 20th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a time trial of 36 km between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images) - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Arrival / Primoz Roglic of Slovenia and Team Jumbo - Visma Yellow Leader Jersey / Bianchi Bike / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images) - Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Spare a thought for Roglič though. Having led the race since stage nine, almost everyone thought he had the general classification sewn up.
Finishing fifth on the stage, it would be unfair to say he had a bad day on the bike, but he certainly didn’t look his absolute best.
On the flat and rolling section, Roglič wasn't gaining much time on rivals but he wasn't losing much either. In the end, it was the final climb where it all unraveled.
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Remi Cavagna of France and Team Deceuninck - Quick-Step / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Mikel Landa Meana of Spain and Team Bahrain - Mclaren / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Jumbo - Visma / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Richard Carapaz of Ecuador and Team INEOS Grenadiers Polka Dot Mountain Jersey / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Tom Dumoulin of The Netherlands and Team Jumbo - Visma / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) - Michael Steele/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Arrival / Tony Martin of Germany and Team Jumbo - Visma / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,) - Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
LA PLANCHE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: Alberto Bettiol of Italy and Team EF Pro Cycling / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 20 a 36,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles 1035m / ITT / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 19, 2020 in La Planche, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,) - Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Like Pogačar and Porte, Roglič also changed bikes at the foot of the final climb.
It didn't go as smoothly as planned, but that ultimately wasn't what lost him the race. Rather than his usual high cadence style, Roglič was in and out of the saddle and suddenly didn't look so calm and collected.
He crossed the line looking like he knew exactly what he'd lost, with his teammates looking on in disbelief. It was a truly remarkable day.
Roglič was, on all accounts, extremely dignified in defeat, though. He also came away with a stage win, a podium finish and eleven days in the yellow jersey. Hardly an unsuccessful Tour.
Simon von Bromley is a senior technical writer for BikeRadar, and a regular contributor on BikeRadar’s podcast and YouTube channel.
Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for more than a decade. He’s also developed a keen interest in gravel bikes and riding off-road in recent years.
As well as covering news and trending topics in road and gravel cycling, Simon writes in-depth reviews and features on power meters, smart trainers, aero tech, and nerdy topics such as chain lubricants, tyres and pro-bike tech from races such as the Tour de France.
He has a keen interest in any tech that can help him (or you) ride faster and is obsessed with the tiniest details.
Before joining BikeRadar, Simon worked on the picture desk at BBC Studios and as a freelance writer and photographer. He has had work published on Cyclingnews.com and in Cycling Plus magazine.
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