ANNECY, France — The 20th and penultimate stage of the Tour de France has started with Chris Froome looking to stay safe at all costs Saturday on the last difficult mountain stage of the race.

The 125-kilometer (78-mile) trek starts in Annecy, nicknamed the `Venice of the Alps’ because of its three canals crisscrossing the town. It features two big climbs before finishing in Annecy-Semnoz.

Froome will take no risks with a lead of 5 minutes, 11 seconds over archrival Alberto Contador of Spain that is too big to close unless he has an unexpected problem.

Once he has safely gotten through Saturday, Froome has a largely processional stage to Paris on Sunday, where he is set to become the second British rider to win the race after Bradley Wiggins’ success last year.