Tour de France 2015, Stage 20: Route, TV schedule and more

Alpe d’Huez has been the most anticipated stretch of road on the 2015 Tour de France since the route was plotted last year. By putting the iconic climb on Stage 20, organizers were clearly hoping there would be multiple yellow jersey contenders ready to compete to decide the Tour. That hasn’t quite happened, but it should still be an immensely competitive stage, with several riders finding form and vying for the glory of winning the Alpe.

Alpe d’Huez was first used in the Tour in 1952, and quickly became a favorite. It became a regular mountain top finish in 1976, gaining a reputation for excitement and drama. Each of the 21 hairpin turns have signs featuring the name of a former stage winner. Hundreds of thousands of fans pack the slopes. Almost all of its 28 appearances have hosted legendary performances, including Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond’s arm-in-arm finish 1986 and Lance Armstrong’s rope-a-dope in 2001.

For 2015 to secure its place in history, someone will need to challenge Chris Froome. At 2:38 ahead of Nairo Quintana, his place atop the final podium in Paris is all but secured. If anyone can knock him off it, it’s Quintana, who has been tentative to attack at times but did manage to steal 30 seconds from Froome during Thursday’s ride to La Toussuire.

Froome and Quintana should be considered the favorites to win the stage, but several other riders are also hitting their stride. Vincenzo Nibali won Stage 19 despite a bad first two weeks, and Romain Bardet took the polka-dot jersey outright (now just three points ahead of Froome) with a series of impressive climbs.

As the last true stage before Sunday’s procession in Paris, Stage 20 is mandatory viewing. Even if you haven’t been following the Tour, it would behoove you to tune in to see one of the great spectacles in sports.