Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, the top three riders of this year’s Tour de France, shared their thoughts on the race after the final time trial in Nice.
Pogacar called his victory “one of the best performances ever” in cycling. The 25-year-old Slovenian won six stages and wore the yellow leader’s jersey for nearly the entire Tour. “This is the strangest feeling I’ve ever had in cycling,” Pogacar said after his big win in Nice. “To win the Tour like this, it’s bizarre. I just don’t really know what to say.”
Having previously won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, this victory felt extra special for Pogacar. “Last year I was really down when I didn’t win the Tour. This year I fought back. I had a perfect preparation, I won a lot.” Reflecting on the race, Pogacar added, “I think I really gave a great show in the Tour. All the contenders showed their balls at some point, I think all the fans enjoyed it.”
Vingegaard, who won the last two editions, had to settle for second place this year. Three months ago, he spent twelve days in a Spanish hospital after a fall in the Tour of the Basque Country, which left him fearing for his life.
Despite Pogacar’s dominance, Vingegaard held out hope for a miracle until Friday’s stage to Isola 2000, where he fell five minutes behind. After the finish, he embraced his wife, Trine, letting his emotions flow. “It was a long struggle to just be able to participate here. Everything came out at that moment,” he shared.
Vingegaard revealed that he had not rested since his crash. “As soon as I got out of the hospital, I immediately started preparing for the Tour de France. After everything that happened, I think it’s great to be back at this level. Maybe coming second like this is a better result than winning the Tour with perfect preparation.”
He mentioned the severe injuries he suffered, “I had broken almost every bone in the right side of my upper body and perforated both my lungs. Three months ago I didn’t know if I would ever be able to ride a bike again.”
Vingegaard plans to rest now, with no Olympics or Vuelta this year. “I haven’t had time to process everything, I’m only going to do that now.”
Photo Credit: Getty(Photo credit: Getty)
Tour debutant Evenepoel modestly announced at the start that he would aim for the top five of the classification. The 24-year-old Belgian, who won the Vuelta two years ago, adjusted that goal to a podium place after Primoz Roglic dropped out.
Evenepoel succeeded in that mission, finishing third. “Pogacar and Vingegaard are on another level,” he stated early in the Tour. “I hope to be able to compete with them in the future. This year I mainly want to learn.”
Evenepoel called third place one of the highlights of his life. “Becoming world champion was a different level. But coming third behind these two great champions is very special.” After the finish in Nice, Evenepoel let his tears flow. “Everything came out. I fell in the same place as Jonas, although his injuries were of course worse,” said Evenepoel, who suffered a broken collarbone. “My preparation was far from optimal. And in Belgium everyone always doubts me. From today that has to end. Because finishing third in your first Tour is very good.”
With these emotional victories and strong performances, the Tour de France concluded in a display of skill and determination from all three podium finishers.
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
