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The Latest: Pinot cheers France with solo Tour stage victory

AP Photo
The Associated Press

by AP25 Jul 20150

ALPE D’HUEZ, France (AP) — The Latest from the Tour de France (all times local):

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4:55 p.m.

Thibault Pinot has given France its third stage victory at this Tour de France by winning the penultimate 20th stage, speeding through a sea of fans in a dramatic solo breakaway up one of cycling’s most celebrated climbs.

Third overall in last year’s Tour but largely frustrated this time, Pinot salvaged some glory on Saturday by speeding ahead to win the 110.5-kilometer (68.6-mile) ride from Modane Valfrejus to Alpe d’Huez.

“There no word to describe it,” said Pinot, who crashed in a winding downhill in Stage 17 as the race entered the Alps. “Because of my bad luck, I thought of dropping out … but I always believed.”

Pinot also won an uphill stage in the 2012 Tour.

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4:40 p.m.

In a dramatic Alpine finale, Chris Froome all but locked up his second Tour de France victory by clinging — just barely — to his lead after the race’s last big challenge, a finish up Alpe d’Huez in Stage 20 won by Thibaut Pinot of France.

The 30-year-old Briton appeared to struggle but limited his losses to second-place Nairo Quintana, who repeatedly attacked but couldn’t fully erase his 2 minute, 38 second deficit to Froome.

Froome is now poised for a largely ceremonial ride to Paris in the 21st and final stage because the mostly flat course offers virtually no chance for his rivals to make up enough time to overcome him.

Expect Froome and his Team Sky comrades to be sipping Champagne on way to the Champs-Elysees.

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2:25 p.m.

Bearded cross-dressers, suited superheroes like Spiderman and Flash, and beer-guzzling Dutchmen draped in orange joined the thousands of fans waiting to welcome Tour de France riders on one of the race’s most legendary climbs.

Potentially rowdy crowds lined the winding, and on Saturday, windy, route up to the famed Alpe d’Huez, which features 21 switchbacks and incomparable views of mountains and valleys.

The climb made its debut in the 112-year-old race in 1952, and Saturday’s 20th stage marks its 29th appearance since then. The 13.8-kilometer (8.6-mile) climb has become a mecca for cycling fans, many on their own bikes or in camping cars and waving flags of many countries, to cheer on the riders.

For a little flavor of the atmosphere, click here:

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2 p.m.

They’re off.

The Tour de France pack is on the last big stage of this year’s race, with Britain’s Chris Froome hoping to rebuff any attacks so he can take home the yellow jersey.

While a few breakaway riders jumped out early, the peloton took a leisurely pace with two gargantuan climbs ahead: The Croix de Fer pass and the fabled Alpe d’Huez at the end of a 110.5 kilometer (68.6 mile) ride from Modane Valfrejus.

After three weeks of leg pain, heat, rain and intermittent abuse from roadside spectators, Froome and his main rivals are eager to reach the finish in Paris on Sunday. Nairo Quintana is the only rider threatening Froome’s hopes of sipping Champagne on the Champs-Elysees: The Colombian is 2 minutes, 38 seconds behind in second place.


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