Team Jumbo’s Vingegaard topped the general standings, three minutes and 34 seconds forward of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar,
Jumbo-Visma group’s Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard carrying the general chief’s yellow jersey celebrates as he cycles to the end line to win the 18th stage of the 109th version of the Tour de France biking race, 143,2 km between Lourdes and Hautacam within the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, on 21 July 2022. Picture: Marco BERTORELLO/AFP
PARIS, France Jonas Vingegaard set off for Paris on Sunday to be formally topped the 2022 Tour de France champion after three weeks and three,350km of relentless battle up peaks, over plains and thru a crushing heatwave.
The twenty first and closing stage is a largely ceremonial run which can see the remaining riders sip champagne as they breeze into the French capital.
Vingegaard’s Jumbo teammates celebrated on Saturday evening at their transit lodge at Limoges, and have been in euphoric temper over breakfast, albeit ribbing their younger champion.
“Is this the breakfast for a man who has just won the Tour?,” quipped certainly one of his teammates.
Vingegaard insisted he was feeling “better than ever” forward of Sunday’s coronation.
The peloton rolls previous the Jardin de Luxembourg, by way of Saint Michel, over Pont Neuf and previous the Louvre earlier than a dash over eight laps of the Champs Elysees.
A presentation ceremony beneath the Arc de Triomphe takes place because the solar units on the 109th version of the world’s best bike race that has been broadcast reside in 60 nations.
Team Jumbo’s Vingegaard tops the general standings, 3min 34sec forward of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, whereas Geraint Thomas, the 2018 winner, stands third at 8min 13sec.
The 25-year-old Vingegaard, who was runner-up in 2021 behind Pogacar, mentioned he was already excited about his 2023 problem.
“I want to celebrate this victory first but of course I want to come back to the Tour to win another one,” mentioned the reluctant star.
“I didn’t set myself five Tours de France or anything like that. I just want to come back and win.”
The Dane was eight seconds sooner than his nice rival on Saturday, and Pogacar appeared downhearted on the end line.
“I’m proud of myself, I did what I could, and at least I have the white jersey (best under-25s),” Pogacar mentioned.
“I learned a lot, I’ll go away and analyse it.”
Thomas may even be remembered for his below the radar strategy that delivered a podium place at 36.
“I’m over the moon to be on the podium, people talk about age, but for me it’s about mentality, if you eat, train, rest properly you can achieve a lot,” mentioned Thomas.
Just three weeks in the past, a wall of sound accompanied Vingegaard as he set out on the Tour which began on dwelling floor in Copenhagen.
40-degree warmth
Danish followers turned out in astonishing numbers because the race sped by way of the verdant Scandinavian nation, taking in a sensational crossing of the 20km lengthy Great Belt Bridge.
On day three, native man Magnus Cort Nielsen was cheered during Jutland.
Many stars emerged alongside the route with Belgian rider Wout van Aert, a Jumbo teammate of Vingegaard, coming third on all three opening phases then pulling off a late escape to lastly land a win on stage 4 at Calais because the race returned to France.
Defending champion Pogacar made all of the early operating along with his lone wolf mentality, steadily clawing into prime spot on stage six.
But the celebs aligned towards Pogacar as he misplaced teammates to Covid and harm.
He can also be a person recognized to dislike warmth which was a significant hurdle within the closing week because the Tour witnessed temperatures of over 40 levels.
Vingegaard took the yellow jersey from Pogacar on stage 11 and whereas the UAE man refused stubbornly to surrender, he misplaced additional floor on stage 18.
Their epic battle was captioned by a touching second of sportsmanship when Pogacar fell at excessive pace solely for the champion-elect to attend for him to catch up in one of many race’s iconic photographs.
Pogacar’s final probability got here in Saturday’s 41km time-trial however Vingegaard was too sturdy even when he virtually got here off his bike in what he described as a “heart attack” second.
But he steadied himself to complete second behind van Aert and guarantee his coronation in Paris