After three weeks and 3,350 kilometres of arduous struggle up peaks, over plains, and through a punishing heatwave, Jonas Vingegaard rides into Paris on Sunday to be officially crowned the Tour de France champion for 2022.
The remaining riders will sip champagne as they cruise into the French capital on the 21st and final stage, which is largely ceremonial.
Before a sprint over eight laps of the Champs Elysees, the peloton rolls past the Jardin de Luxembourg, Saint Michel, over Pont Neuf, and the Louvre.
As the sun sets on the 109th running of the greatest bike race in the world, which has been broadcast live in 60 countries, a presentation ceremony is held beneath the Arc de Triomphe.
Vingegaard of Team Jumbo leads the overall standings by 3:34 over Tadej Pogacar, the two-time defending champion, and Geraint Thomas, the 2018 victor, who is third at 8:13.
The 25-year-old Vingegaard, who was runner-up in 2021 behind Pogacar, said he was already thinking about his 2023 challenge.
“I want to celebrate this victory first but of course I want to come back to the Tour to win another one,” said the reluctant star.
I did not set a goal of completing five Tours de France or anything similar. I simply want to return and triumph.
On Saturday, the Dane outran his main rival by eight seconds, and Pogacar appeared dejected as he crossed the finish line.
I did what I could, and at least I have the white jersey (best under-25s),” Pogacar said. “I’m proud of myself.
I’ll leave and analyse what I’ve learned.
The suffering is over I gave it everything in my final push in the TT.
Congratulations on your well-deserved @LeTour victory, Jonas and @JumboVismaRoad!
Also thanks to all riders and staff @TeamEmiratesUAE for these last weeks.
Tomorrow we roll into Paris for one final go pic.
twitter.com/FPnmdtwKxS
23 July 2022: Tadej Pogaar (@TamauPogi)
Thomas will also be noted for his covert strategy, which led to a podium finish at age 36.
People often talk about age, but for me, it’s more about mindset; if you eat, train, and rest properly, you can achieve a lot, said Thomas.
Three weeks ago, Vingegaard embarked on the Tour, which began on home soil in Copenhagen, with a wall of sound around him.
As the race zipped across the lush Scandinavian country, taking in a breathtaking crossing of the 20km-long Great Belt Bridge, Danish supporters showed up in surprising numbers.
Magnus Cort Nielsen, a local, was applauded on day three all the way through Jutland.
Numerous riders rose to prominence along the way, including Belgian rider Wout van Aert, a teammate of Vingegaard’s on the Jumbo Jumbo team, who finished third on each of the first three stages before staging a daring late escape to win stage four at Calais as the race headed back to France.
On Stage 11, Jonas Vingegaard won the yellow jersey.
With his lone wolf mindset, the defending champion Pogacar made all of the early running and eventually overtook him on stage six.
However, Pogacar’s luck ran out when he lost teammates to COVID-19 and injuries.
Additionally, he has a reputation for detesting the heat, which posed a significant challenge in the last week of the Tour when temperatures reached above 40 degrees.
On stage 11, Vingegaard overtook Pogacar for the yellow jersey, and despite the UAE man’s obstinate refusal to give up, he lost more ground on stage 18.
One of the race’s iconic photos shows Pogacar falling at high speed while the champion-elect patiently waits for him to come up, capping off their epic struggle.
Pogacar’s final opportunity came in the 41-kilometer time trial on Saturday, but Vingegaard was too strong, despite the fact that he nearly fell off his bike in what he later described as a “heart attack” situation.
However, he maintained his composure to place second behind van Aert and guarantee his coronation in Paris.