Tadej Pogacar secured his third Tour de France title with a victory in the final stage, a time trial from Monaco to Nice. The 33.7km course saw riders tackling climbs over La Turbie and the Col d’Eze before descending into Nice. The race was relocated due to the Olympic Games in Paris, and concluded in front of enthusiastic fans along the Promenade des Anglais.
The stage began with the riders setting off from Monaco in the early afternoon. The challenging route included significant climbs and a fast descent into Nice, testing the riders’ endurance and skill. The time trial format, a first since the iconic 1989 battle between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon, added an extra layer of intensity to the final day of racing.
French climber Lenny Martinez set an early benchmark, clocking 48:24. His time held strong until Colombian Harold Tejada bettered it with 48:15. However, as the top contenders began their runs, the competition intensified. Simon Yates started strong but it was Derek Gee who posted the quickest time at the first checkpoint. Adam Yates, Mikel Landa, and others followed, but the focus soon shifted to the top three riders in the general classification.
Tadej Pogacar, the last man to start, blitzed the course with an average speed of 44.521 kph. He set the fastest times at both the first and second checkpoints, building a commanding lead. He completed the stage in 45:24, securing his sixth stage win of this Tour. Reflecting on his performance, Pogacar said, “I’m super happy. I cannot describe how happy I am after two hard years in the Tour de France. Always some mistakes and this year everything to perfection. I’m out of words, so I’m super happy to win here, incredible.”
Photo Credit: ASO-Billy CeustersJonas Vingegaard, who finished second both in the stage and overall, had a challenging season, having been hospitalised for nearly two weeks in April. Despite his limited preparation, he put up a strong fight throughout the Tour. “I did my best, and I’m proud of my effort. It was a tough race, but I’m happy with my performance,” he shared after the stage.
Remco Evenepoel, the world time trial champion, finished third on the day and secured third place overall in his Tour debut. “I felt good on the bike today. It was a tough course, but I gave it my all. Finishing third in my first Tour is something special,” he commented.
Biniam Girmay, who made history by winning the green jersey, expressed his joy and gratitude. “Wearing the green jersey is an honour, the symbol of the sprinter. This is a new dream come true. To be honest I didn’t come into this race with this ambition, I just came here to show I’m not a bad rider. I’m just grateful to have today, it’s the most amazing day of my life,” he told reporters.
Richard Carapaz had a commendable performance throughout the Tour, although he did not finish in the top standings the Ecuadoran did take home the King of the Mountains jersey and the most combative rider award. “It was a tough Tour, but I learned a lot and enjoyed every moment. The support from the fans and my team was incredible,” he said.
Mark Cavendish, completing his final Tour de France, was visibly moved. “I think I got most of the emotions out of the way yesterday. I kind of enjoyed today. OK I couldn’t go easy, I knew if I got to the top of the climb by a certain point I’d be all right for the time limit, so I just could do that, then I could just really enjoy it. Enjoy counting down the kilometres, see the flamme rouge for the last time, and see my family across the finish line – it was very, very nice,” Cavendish reflected.
The 2024 Tour de France concluded with Pogacar’s exceptional performance, securing his place among cycling’s elite. The reactions from the riders highlighted the intense competition and the emotional journey of this year’s race.
Photo Credit: ASO-Billy Ceusters2024 Tour de France Stage 21 result
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2024 Tour de France GC result
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All photo credits: ASO – Billy Ceusters
