The three-week Tour de France madness is over: the annoyances, the discovery, the goosebumps moment

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On the big stage in the capital Paris on the Champs-Élysées, the tour ended as usual with a bunch sprint on Sunday evening. It was a millimeter decision in favor of Belgian Jordi Meeus (25) ahead of his compatriot and sprint king Jasper Philipsen (25), who won four stages.

Before the sprint, the drivers set off fireworks. Attack after attack rolled through the streets of Paris. Even Tadej Pogacar (24), second overall, was among the front runners. Since it was clear that he was in the business of winning the day and not attacking the maillot jaune, he was breaking no law. Symbolic: A normal rollout wouldn’t have suited this year’s tour.

Matej Mohoric (28) wears his heart on his sleeve. Sobbing after his stage victory on Friday, the tearful Slovenian described how many doubts there are in the Tour and how much respect there is among the riders.

“It’s cruel to be a professional cyclist. You suffer, you sacrifice your life and your family to be here, only to realize after a few days how strong everyone is. So strong that you often can’t follow the other person’s handlebars. Then you feel like you don’t belong here at all.”

For more than two weeks, the tour was a second thriller between rivals Jonas Vingegaard (26) and Tadej Pogacar (24). Until last year’s winner Vingegaard made the big difference in the time trial on stage 16.

It was the time trial of his life. “During the ride I started to wonder if the power meter on the bike was broken,” the Dane said of his fabulous ride. He got more than a minute and a half on Pogacar, about three minutes and more on everyone else on the tour – over a distance of 14 miles (22.4 km).

At the latest after Vingegaard’s demonstration of power, the cycling world was looking for explanations for the incredible performance of the top riders for three weeks. Also against the background of the record times of Vingegaard and Pogacar on the Tourmalet and in Mont Blanc.

After repeated inquiries, Vingegaard made an impressive statement. The once shy boy from the Danish North Sea coast and now a family man promised: “I don’t assume anything that I wouldn’t give my two-year-old daughter.”

Public favorite Thibaut Pinot (33) experienced a beautiful farewell on Saturday on the last mountain stage in the Vosges. North of Switzerland, the ten-time Tour participant rode solo into the final climb as leader. Thousands of frenzied fans celebrated the Frenchman at the top for the last time in his home country.

The departure was a bitter one for Mark Cavendish (38). The Isle of Man sprinter was chasing the sole record of 35 stage wins but was forced to retire after a fall and broken collarbone. Together with cycling legend Eddy Merckx (78) he remains the record holder with 34 victories. It was also the last tour for Peter Sagan (33).

It already started with the 2nd stage: in the impressive Basque audience, there were some idiots who tacked. Then there was the fan sling that got caught in Lilian Calmejane’s (30) bike and the unwary spectator on stage 15 that caused a massive crash.

Vehicles also caused chaos. First and foremost the two engines that blocked a Pogacar attack on Vingegaard the day before due to a traffic jam. Or the cars that forced the Tour winner to get off the Col de la Loze.

Two Swiss took part and fought their way to Paris, mainly as helpers: Stefan Küng (29th, 54th place) and Silvan Dillier (32nd, 129th place). Both spoke of a tough Tour de France.

The discovery comes from Austria: Felix Gall (25) improved day after day in his first participation and crowned his series of improvement with a victory on the queen stage in Courchevel. The only 25-year-old climbing specialist felt more and more at ease with Vingegaard and Pogacar.

Source : Blick