Jonas Vingegaard came home safely to win the Tour de France in Paris, while Jasper Philipsen took victory in the final stage on the Champs Elysées.
Tour de France champions
Last winners of the yellow jersey
- 2022 – Jonas Vingegaard (DEN)
- 2021 — Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
- 2020 — Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
- 2019 — Egan Bernal (COL)
- 2018 — Geraint Thomas (GBR)
- 2017 – Chris Froome (GBR)
- 2016 – Chris Froome (GBR)
- 2015 – Chris Froome (GBR)
Denmark’s Vingegaard, the leader of the all-conquering Jumbo-Visma team, had effectively sealed his victory in Saturday’s time trial, coming home in 77th place on the 21st and final stage, in ceremonial part, Sunday.
“It’s amazing – I finally won the Tour. Nothing can come out anymore,” said the 25-year-old, holding his daughter.
“It’s the biggest cycling race you can win and now I’ve done it and nobody can take it away from me.
“I’m very happy with my victory. I want to relax, celebrate, but I also want more.”
This bodes well for an exciting new era for the sport after Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar, winner of the previous two editions, finished second overall, 3min 34sec behind the winner.
Former British champion Geraint Thomas took third place.
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Tadej Pogačar (left) and winner Jonas Vingegaard had an epic battle for the yellow jersey, but eventually relaxed at the finish line in Paris. (Getty Images: Michael Steele)
The uncontrollable Pogačar might have been dethroned, but he still had the cheek to launch his own attack in the Paris denouement, before he was swiftly withdrawn.
Belgium’s Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was the dominant winner in the sprint final of the 115.6km stage, clear of runner-up Dylan Groenewegen, the star sprinter of the Australian Team BikeExchange-Jayco, and the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff.
“I can’t believe it, it’s a childhood dream come true,” said Philipsen, who also took his first Tour victory this year on stage 15 in Carcassonne.
Jasper Philipsen (far left) won the sprint to Paris on the Champs Elysees to complete the final stage of the Tour de France. (AP: Daniel Cole)
“That will take a while to realize. I’m very proud of the team. That we can finish a Tour like this is the cherry on the cake.”
Once again, lucky Aussie star Caleb Ewan faltered, unable to find the right position to hit in the opener and finishing eighth.
He also became only the second Australian to win the Lanterne Rouge, the accolade given to the slowest finisher after three weeks.
Finishing last of the 135 riders who eventually crossed the line, the Sydneysider, who had to battle two crashes en route, had been in the saddle for 85 hours, 14 minutes and 2 seconds.
Instead, Vingegaard finished in 79:33:20, about five hours and 40 minutes faster.
He was the first Danish rider to win cycling’s biggest race since Bjarne Riis’ largely discredited triumph in 1996, after he later admitted doping.
The best Australian finisher at the Tour was BikeExchange-Jayco’s Nick Schultz, who finished 23rd, 1:39:41 ahead of Vingegaard.
Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) was 35th, Chris Hamilton (DSM) 38th and stage winner Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) 78th.
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AAP