Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM
After the Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogačar has additionally gained the Tour de France 2024. A novel double, which was final achieved in 1989. Within the remaining time trial of over 33 kilometers from Monaco to Good, there was little pressure left on the prime of the classification. The battle for the stage victory with Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel was fascinating, though Pogačar left nothing to likelihood. With nice superiority, the Slovenian blasted to his sixth (!) stage victory of this Tour.
The ultimate day of the 2024 Tour de France was a historic day for a number of causes. Paris was averted due to the Olympic Video games and a person time trial was chosen for the primary time since 1989. A time trial of 33.7 kilometers was deliberate between Monaco and Good with La Turbie (8.1 km at 5.6%) and the quick and steep facet of the Col d’Èze (1.6 km at 8.1%) alongside the best way. After a technical descent, 5 flat kilometers adopted to the well-known Boulevard des Anglais in Good.
On the unveiling of the course, there was hope for a denouement like in 1989, when Greg LeMond gained the Tour by eight seconds from Laurent Fignon. However nothing might be farther from the reality, as a result of Tadej Pogacar was heading for a historic double. After successful the Giro d’Italia earlier this yr, he now needed to pull a lead of 5.14 minutes over Jonas Vingegaard over the road within the time trial to Good. Quantity three Remco Evenepoel adopted at 8.04 minutes.
Bye Cav! – picture: Cor Vos
Emotional farewell for Campenaerts, Van Aert takes it simple
At 14:40 Davide Ballerini was the primary starter, adopted by teammate and historical past maker Mark Cavendish, for whom it was his final ever stage within the Tour de France. For the primary severe goal occasions on the end it was logical to attend till after 16:00. The highest 10 of the classification didn’t begin till after 18:30, which made it a protracted sit for all viewers and followers.
Lenny Martinez’s remaining time of 48.24 minutes might be seen as a goal, as a result of Kévin Vauquelin and Victor Campenaerts, amongst others, didn’t attain that point. Harold Tejada (48.14 minutes, common 41.9 km/h) surprisingly ducked 9 seconds beneath it, however that will even be purely for the statistics. The time trial of Wout van Aert was putting, who took it simple per week earlier than the Olympic time trial and finally conceded greater than 5 minutes to the quickest occasions.
Many skilled riders used the time trial to Good to say goodbye to the Tour de France and the French public. For instance, for Simon Geschke and stage winner and yellow jersey wearer Romain Bardet, this time trial was the final Tour stage of their profession.
Remco Evenepoel: Third within the time trial and third in his very first Tour de France – picture: Cor Vos
The battle between Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Pogačar
However ultimately, all eyes had been on the highest of the overall classification. With the large gaps within the classification, it was questionable whether or not Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Pogačar would all take dangers. Additional again within the prime 10, each second was being fought for: Carlos Rodriguez was only one second behind sixth place from Adam Yates, and between eighth place (Matteo Jorgenson) and eleventh place (Santiago Buitrago) was lower than two minutes. Derek Gee and Giulio Ciccone had been nonetheless between them.
At La Turbie (intermediate level after 11.2 km) Derek Gee was the primary to go beneath Lenny Martinez’s prime time, however that was nothing in comparison with the occasions of the large names. Evenepoel clocked 20.36 minutes on the first intermediate level, however Vingegaard had ridden a powerful climb and was already 19 seconds quicker than the Fleming. After which Pogačar nonetheless needed to go. The yellow jersey clocked 20.10 and was thus 7 seconds quicker than Vingegaard and 26 seconds quicker than Evenepoel.
Pogačar dots the i’s with convincing sixth stage win
After a quick descent got here the Col d’Èze (intermediate level after 17.1 km) and there Pogačar confirmed his standing as de Kannibaal van Klanec. Evenepoel was certainly 46 seconds quicker than ‘better of the remainder’ Derek Gee, however Vingegaard dived 26 seconds beneath Evenepoel’s time at that prime. Nevertheless, they had been no match for the yellow flash, who recorded 28.39 minutes and thus elevated his lead on Vingegaard to 24 seconds. Evenepoel adopted at 51 (!) seconds.
A centered Tadej Pogačar is as soon as once more unbeatable – picture: Cor Vos
There was additionally one other measuring level when getting into Good (after 28.6 km). Within the quick and technical descent, Vingegaard and Pogačar confirmed that they had been nonetheless driving on the restrict, however each remained upright. The Slovenian prolonged his lead on the remainder in that part, after which solely 5 flat kilometres in the direction of the end adopted. Nothing stood in the best way of a sixth stage victory for Good-looking.
It was not for Remco Evenepoel, who finally misplaced greater than a minute to the classification chief and needed to accept third place within the stage outcome. Vingegaard was nonetheless quicker than the Belgian, however needed to acknowledge his superiority once more in a cruel Tadej Pogačar. It’s his third remaining victory within the Tour de France after his victories in 2020 and 2021.
Within the remaining classification, the variations had been immense after three weeks. Vingegaard adopted greater than 6 minutes behind the general winner Pogačar and Evenepoel greater than 9 minutes behind. João Almeida and Mikel Landa accomplished the highest 5, however had been already 20 minutes behind. Adam Yates, Carlos Rodriguez, Matteo Jorgenson, Derek Gee and Santiago Buitrago had been nonetheless within the prime 10. Giulio Ciccone dropped out on the final day.
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