Climbing phenomenon Egan Bernal was poised to become the first Colombian to win the Tour de France and the youngest race champion in 110 years when he retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after Saturday's 20th stage.

"It's something I've been dreaming of," said the Team Ineos' 22-year-old rider after the stage.

The Saturday's stage from Albertville to Val Thorens in the French Alps was shortened to a 59.5-km mountain ride rather than the scheduled 130 km, due to fears over landslides in worsening weather conditions.

Sunday's final stage from Rambouillet to Paris is a largely processional ride with only the final sprint being contested.

The champion-in-waiting said he was so nervous on the climb to Val Thorens in the Alps that he counted down the kilometers on the way up.

"When we got to the finish and Geraint held out his hand I realized it was over and I was going to win the Tour de France."

Stage winner Vincenzo Nibali, one more shark attack

Team Bahrain-Merida's Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali won the 20th stage on Saturday.

Nibali was the Tour's 2014 overall winner and the stage victory was his first win since the 2018 Milan-Sanremo.

The victory was also the team's second stage win in the Tour after Dylan Teuns's victory on the sixth stage, also a mountain ride but ranged 160.5km from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles.

Even though Bernal finished fourth at the 20th stage, he still retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

His teammate and defending champion Geraint Thomas was second overall ahead of Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk after France's Julian Alaphilippe cracked in the final ascent to the ski resort of Val Thorens.

'I didn't think he could do it': Doubting Thomas backs Bernal to keep winning

Thomas admitted Saturday that he never thought teammate Bernal would succeed him as Tour de France champion but backed the 22-year-old Colombian to keep winning.

The Welshman came into the race as hot favorite to retain his title. But after a trio of Alpine stages, the Colombian rider clinched the yellow jersey.

"If my experience is anything to go by then he's got an amazing year ahead of him and it's been an honor to be part of this," said Thomas, the former Olympic track champion.

"To be honest I didn't think Egan was going to win this year, but the talent has been evident for all to see.

"He's got many years of success ahead of him, a humble guy with a great future."

Thomas admitted he had intended to defend his title and come away with back-to-back wins, insisting at the start in Brussels he was no one-hit Tour de France wonder.

"This year and last year are like black and white, everything that could go wrong went wrong," he said.

"Last year I had no falls, no punctures, no problems - a bit like Egan this year.

"I would have loved to have won but there you go, the fact a teammate won makes it easier," added the 33-year-old.

"Crossing the line with Egan today was an incredible feeling," Thomas said of the moment the pair crested the 33-km summit of Val Torrens knowing they were in a 1-2 position.

"We always work as a team and that is why we have been so successful. I told Egan not to worry about the crying because all real men cry."

"He's an incredible talent and can dominate the race for years to come."

Top 3 riders from stage 20

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Team Bahrain-Merida) one hour 51 minutes and 53 seconds

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Team Movistar) +10 seconds

3. Mikel Landa (Spain/Team Movistar) +14 seconds

General ranking of Top 3 riders after stage 20:

1. Egan Bernal (Colombia/Team Ineos) 79 hours 52 minutes and 52 seconds

2. Geraint Thomas (UK/Team Ieos) + one minute 11 seconds

3. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands/Team Jumbo-Visma) + one minute and 31 seconds

(With input from agencies)