Get set for a thriller - the decisive final stages of the 2020 Tour de France

With just nine stages remaining, the 2020 Tour de France is just warming up. Don't miss a single minute. Watch it all unfold LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE on SBS or live stream via SBS On Demand.

Source: Getty Images

Green jersey battle has only just begun - Sagan wants revenge

107th Tour de France 2020 - Stage 12 Source: Getty

For the first time since 2017, the jersey Peter Sagan has made his own is under threat. 

That year, he was booted from the race for elbowing Mark Cavendish into a barrier and bringing him down on the fourth stage.  

As in 2017, the Slovakian could miss out on wearing the jersey in Paris for a sprint infringement, this time losing the 30 points he gained from finishing second to Caleb Ewan on Stage 11 after he was relegated to 85th for headbutting Wout van Aert. 

To add more insult to injured ego the race commisaires also took the 13 points he gained at the intermediate sprint that day.

Already in green, Sam Bennett saw his lead extend to 68 points which after Stage 12's intermediate sprint and Sagan working hard for four points at the finish crossing the line 13th, the Irishman's lead is now 66 points.  

The grand boucle was a last minute addition to Sagan's schedule with the Giro d'Italia his main season objective rather than the Classics and the Tour for the first time in his career. Now, it's a matter of honour for the seven-time winner. 

Is it possible? It's probable. 

Bennett's men won't make it easy but Sagan and his team mates show they're up for a fight, forcing the split on Stage 7 well before Sagan's eighth green jersey looked as fragile as it is now, and on Stage 12 when they dropped Sam Bennett. 

This fight will be just as exciting as the yellow jersey. Here are the stages to watch for what Sagan might do:  

Wtih a category 1 climb coming at the 36th kilometre, Sagan is unlikely to breakaway on Stage 13 to reach the intermediate sprint first, but he has done it before. 

He might be tempted to breakaway on Stage 14 or at least until the intermediate sprint at 38kms. Although the ending to Stage 15 is for the climbers, it's fairly flat until the intermediate sprint at 70kms and same again on Stage 17. 

But the stage he is most likely to target is Stage 19 with its rollers and maximum sprint points at the finish.

Friday 11 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 13 - LIVE

19:40 AEST streaming via SBS On Demand - 21:30 switch to SBS 

SA/NT - 21:30 on SBS / 19:10 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 21:30 switch to SBS / 17:40 streaming via SBS On Demand

Saturday 12 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 14 - LIVE

20:30 AEST - SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 20:30 on SBS / 20:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 18:30 on SBS VICELAND - 20:30 switch to SBS / 18:30 streaming via SBS On Demand

Sunday 13 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 15 - LIVE

20:30 AEST - SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 20:30 on SBS / 20:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 18:30 on SBS VICELAND - 20:30 switch to SBS / 18:30 streaming via SBS On Demand

Friday 18 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 19 - LIVE

21:30 AEST - SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 21:30 on SBS / 21:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 21:30 switch to SBS / 19:30 streaming via SBS On Demand

The fight for yellow - the decisive stages

Stage 13: Châtel-Guyon to Puy Mary Cantal

Source: Getty

The technical director of the Tour de France, Thierry Gouvenou says this 191km stage from Châtel-Guyon to Puy Mary Cantal in the Massif Central is the hardest day of the 2020 Tour de France, and with 4,400 metres of vertical gain, we believe him. 

The finish on the Puy Mary climb could prove decisive for the yellow jersey battle. Expect attacks.  

Friday 11 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 13 - LIVE

19:40 AEST streaming via SBS On Demand - 21:30 switch to SBS 

SA/NT - 21:30 on SBS / 19:10 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 21:30 switch to SBS / 17:40 streaming via SBS On Demand

Stage 15: Lyon to Grand Colombier

Set your alarms. Get in an afternoon nanna nap, plan Monday off from work - we're heading 174kms from Lyon to the Grand Colombier. 

But before we hit the final 17.4km, 7.1 per cent gradient climb to the summit finish, there are two category 1 bumps to conquer first. But tomorrow is a rest day, so expect a bit of a yellow jersey party. 

On a similar stage to Grand Colombier at the Tour de l'Ain race last month, Primož Roglič defeated defending Tour de France champion Egan Bernal by four seconds, but Nairo Quintana, Guillaume Martin and Australian Richie Porte were all there within shouting distance. 

Sunday 13 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 15 - LIVE

20:30 AEST - SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 20:30 on SBS / 20:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 18:30 on SBS VICELAND - 20:30 switch to SBS / 18:30 streaming via SBS On Demand

Stage 16: La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans

This stage might not prove decisive but it is a punishing day over two category 2 climbs and the summit of the penultimate category 1 Montée de Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte comes around 20kms from the finish.

This 11.1km, 6.5 per cent gradient climb could be a launch pad for an attack by someone like Tadej Pogačar looking to make up time especially with the eight bonus seconds on offer.  

Tuesday 15 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 16 - LIVE

21:30 AEST on SBS VICELAND - 22:00 switch to SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 21:00 on SBS VICELAND - 22:30 switch to SBS / 21:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 22:30 switch to SBS / 19:30 streaming via SBS On Demand

Stage 17: Grenoble to Méribel (Col de La Loze)

Source: Supplied

This 170km stage will be brutal. There'll be some tired legs on the final 21.5km final hors categorie climb with an altitude of 2,304 metres and the gradient sometimes reaching 20 per cent.

But first they must traverse the Col de la Madeline, another punishing hors categorie climb. 

Wednesday 16 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 17 - LIVE

20:05 AEST streaming via SBS On Demand - 21:30 switch to SBS 

SA/NT - 21:30 on SBS / 19:35 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 21:30 switch to SBS / 18:05 streaming via SBS On Demand

Stage 18: Méribel to La Roche-Sur-Foron / Stage 20: Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles

Stage 18 is last drinks for the contenders before the time trial on Saturday. On this 167km Alpine stage, riders face 4,000m of vertical gain, two category 1 climbs and bonus points on the hors categories Col des Glièresbefore an uncategorised kick and the descent to La Roche-Sur-Foron. 

The 36km individual time trial on Stage 20 could prove key. The final nine kilometres are all up the dreadful category 1 La Planche des Belles Filles. 

Thursday 17 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 18 - LIVE

20:05 AEST streaming via SBS On Demand - 21:30 switch to SBS 

SA/NT - 21:30 on SBS / 19:35 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 19:30 on SBS VICELAND - 21:30 switch to SBS / 18:05 streaming via SBS On Demand

Watch Caleb win in Paris?

Source: Getty

After his Stage 11 victory, his second at this year's Tour de France, Australian Caleb Ewan said "now I for sure want a third victory, especially in Paris with the Champs-Élysées. So I hope to get through the mountains and get another chance in Paris."

This is no processional stage for Aussie fans. 

Sunday 20 September - Tour de France 2020 Stage 21 - LIVE

23:30 AEST - SBS / SBS On Demand

SA/NT - 23:00 on SBS / 23:00 streaming via SBS On Demand 

WA - 21:30 on SBS VICELAND - 23:30 switch to SBS / 21:30 streaming via SBS On Demand