2015 Tour de France results and standings, Stage 20: Thibaut Pinot wins Alpe d’Huez, Chris Froome wins Tour

Thibaut Pinot went solo with six kilometers to the finish atop the Alpe d’Huez and withstood a charging, determined Nairo Quintana for a redemptive stage win. Pinot entered the 2015 Tour de France with general classification ambitions after finishing third on the standings in 2014. The past three weeks were tough for the young Frenchman, but a win on one of the Tour’s most iconic climbs will make this a Tour to remember.

Quintana didn’t close the 2:38 gap to Chris Froome, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. Quintana put pressure on Froome all the way up the Alpe. Team Sky was apt to the challenges until six kilometers remained and Quintana left Froome for good. Quintana picked his way through the chase groups (though never quite reaching Pinot). The withered Sky train --Froome, Richie Porte and Wout Poels -- went after Quintana, but the Colombian was in his best form of the Tour, constantly stretching his lead until finishing 1:20 ahead of Froome.

Only, Pinot didn’t fall to Quintana, ultimately holding him off for an 18-second win. Pinot and FDJ raced the stage beautifully. Teammate Alexandre Geniez was named the most aggressive rider after leading the stage for most of the day. Pinot joined him with nine kilometers to go, giving Pinot a respite before his final surge.

Now that only Paris remains, Froome will win the Tour de France. He held the yellow jersey from Stage 7 onward, leading by nearly three minutes until the last two brutal days. Froome is a deserving winner. Quintana’s ride on Saturday foretells a tremendous rivalry for years to come, however.