On September 1 in stage four Krists Neilands (team Israel Start-Up Nation) was awarded the combativity prize for a brave breakaway that almost paid off and certainly made for a more exciting race.
KRISTS NEILANDS will step into the podium of the @LeTour today as the most combative rider in the Peloton ! He wanted to win , but for his team ISN and him it’s a honor and another milestone. #TDF2020
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) September 1, 2020
Then in stage eight on September 5 Toms Skujiņš (team Trek-Segafredo) came tantalisingly close to a stage win, finishing second behind Dutchman Nans Peters by 47 seconds after battling for the win much of the day. Previously his best finish in a Tour de France stage was a fifth-place finish in 2018.
#TDF2020 Take a dive into the peloton with on-board footage from Stage 8, which saw @Tomashuuns claim? from the breakaway.
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 6, 2020
Special thanks to @EdwardTheuns for getting some great footage of us in action ? pic.twitter.com/esiiNpbGOE
He was magnanimous despite the disappointment of having come so close to an historic stage win.
"Not a win, but I'm still happy. When the strongest guy wins there's not much you can do. A few more chances to go one place higher, so will hopefully make you guys yell at TV screens again," he wrote on Twitter.
In the overall rankings on September 7, Skujiņš lies in 49th place and Neilands in 90th place.
