Bernal crossed the line in fourth alongside team-mate and defending champion Geraint Thomas following the conclusion of the 20th stage in Val Thorens to all-but seal the general classification title.

All the 22-year-old has to do is finish tomorrow's largely-processional stage from Rambouillet to Paris to be crowned the overall champion.

Thomas, who promised he would work to ensure Bernal claimed the title following yesterday's dramatic stage, is 71 seconds adrift of his Team Ineos counterpart on the standings.

Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk, who rides for Jumbo–Visma, is 91 seconds behind the Colombian.

It will be the seventh Tour de France victory in eight years for the Manchester-based Team Ineos, known as Team Sky until earlier this year when media company Sky UK decided not to renew sponsorship, leading to the team securing financial support from the British chemicals group Ineos.

But it will be the first time a non-British rider from the team has won following victories for Bradley Wiggins in 2012, Chris Froome in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and Thomas in 2018. 

Frenchman Julian Alaphillipe, who led the race for 14 days before he was surpassed by Bernal yesterday, has slipped down to fifth after he fell away on the final climb.

Today's stage, reduced to 59 kilometres because of landslides on the course, was won by Italian Vincenzo Nibali in 1 hour 51min 53sec.

The 2014 winner and Bahrain-Merida rider finished 10 seconds in front of Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa.

Bernal and Thomas crossed the line arm-in-arm and will be confirmed in first and second place barring any disasters tomorrow.

Race tradition dictates that the holder of the yellow jersey is not challenged on the final stage.

Slovakian Peter Sagan has claimed the green points jersey classification, while Frenchman Romain Bardet set to receive the King of the Mountains jersey.