Tadej Pogacar has gained a second successive Tour de France, hailing his victory as “an unbelievable journey” whereas Australia unearthed its subsequent real contender as Ben O’Connor completed a shock fourth general.
Wout van Aert claimed the ultimate stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday after three weeks of thrilling motion. Pogacar stole in on the eleventh hour to win the 2020 version, however this 12 months he stamped his authority within the first week earlier than he pulled on the yellow jersey beneath the Arc de Triomphe because the undisputed champion, aged simply 22.
“We did it,” he stated with an enormous smile.
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“It was one factor final 12 months, the primary win, I didn’t cry this 12 months,” he stated glowing in his huge second and thanking everybody together with his dad and mom and siblings all current.
“I hope we are able to all come again subsequent 12 months with out masks.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey being a part of this biking household,” he stated dedicating his newest triumph to “all biking followers all over the place.”
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Jumbo’s Belgian rider Van Aert stormed previous Briton Mark Cavendish to take the twenty first stage after additionally profitable a time-trial at Saint-Emilion and a mountain stage at Mont Ventoux.
“I’ve gained a large Tour de France stage,” Van Aert stated. “However I’m just a bit bike owner in contrast with Tadej.”
Marking the tip of the previous period, 36-year-old Cavendish narrowly missed out on a fifth win on this version — and a file thirty fifth on the Tour de France.
Jasper Philipsen was second on the day as Deceuninck rider Cavendish fell simply brief, punching his handlebars in frustration.
4 wins within the six phases that resulted in a mass bunch dash had been sufficient, nonetheless, for him to equal Eddy Merckx’s file of 34 stage wins on the Tour and safe him the inexperienced dash factors jersey.
“It was simply too exhausting,” Cavendish stated of the ultimate dash. “However it’s simply fantastic to be right here,” he stated on the rostrum after selecting up his award.
Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, additionally of Jumbo, was a stunning second within the basic classification, whereas Ineos’ Richard Carapaz was third to observe his 2019 triumph on the Giro d’Italia.
O’Connor, 25, turned solely the fourth Australian in Tour de France historical past to complete within the high 5 of the overall classification — a end result he’d stated would take a “miracle” — after Richie Porte most just lately did it ending third final 12 months.
O’Connor’s end result was constructed on a dominant stage in Tignes final week and he needed to battle exhausting to maintain a spot within the high 5.
The efficiency will put the worldwide biking world on discover together with his French staff AG2R-Citroën — which has largely backed Romain Bardet generally classification — additionally reportedly making the Australian their lead rider on the upcoming Vuelta a España.
“Simply to make Paris is particular, however now that I’m fourth general is wild. It’s particular and one thing that I’ll always remember,” O’Connor stated.
Thankyou everybody for the assist on this loopy, wild and rewarding @LeTour .
To be 4th Total, with a stage win going into Paris tomorrow makes me very proud. Merci @AG2RCITROENTEAM for the arrogance, and perception— Ben O’Connor (@ben_oconnor95) July 17, 2021
Pogacar “rode between the raindrops” after surviving a litany of crashes because the Tour embarked from the nation’s western tip on the Atlantic port of Brest.
The Slovenian then pulverised his rivals within the first time-trial because the race headed in the direction of the Swiss and Italian border ski resorts the place he additionally held his personal.
The UAE Group Emirates chief then produced a pair of joyful mountain victories within the Pyrenees to rubber stamp his standing as the most effective rider on the Tour this 12 months.
Pogacar additionally gained the awards for finest rider under-25 and the king of the mountains polka-dot jersey, a triple he additionally achieved on his debut final 12 months.