Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France title as Wout van Aert takes last stage

Irish Independent

5 hours ago

Pogacar looked keen to take what could prove to be a unique opportunity to win in yellow in Paris as the introduction of three ascents of the climb to Montmartre reshaped the usual final day procession into the capital, but Van Aert broke clear on the last time up to take the glory.
Although the general classification times had been neutralised in the soggy conditions, Pogacar still had to finish to secure his title yet was willing to risk it all on the greasy cobbles in pursuit of a fifth stage win of this Tour.
The Slovenian attacked each time up the narrow climb to whittle down a leading group to just a handful of riders, but had no response when Van Aert made his move 400 metres from the summit of the final ascent, winning solo by 19 seconds from Davide Ballerini.
Pogacar, 26, sat up to safely bring home the yellow jersey and beat his rival Jonas Vingegaard by a final margin of four minutes and 24 seconds, moving level with Chris Froome on four titles, one shy of the record jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Jacques Anquetil.
German Florian Lipowitz finished third overall, some 11 minutes down on Pogacar and one minute three seconds ahead of 22-year-old Scot Oscar Onley who has enjoyed a breakout Tour.
On the 50th anniversary of the first Champs-Elysees finish, the race returned to the French capital after last year's enforced absence due to the Olympic Games.
Race organisers had been inspired by incredible scenes in Montmartre during those Games to add the climb to this day and totally shake up the complexion of the usual parade into Paris.
The route change left potential for time gaps at the finish, but with heavy rain falling organisers announced general classification times would be taken earlier in the stage to remove the peril.
After the usual photoshoots on the approach to the capital, the race was on as soon as they hit the Champs-Elysees for the first time before really exploding on the first time up the climb.
Pogacar's attacks splintered the groups but Van Aert had team-mate Matteo Jorgenson to help him and used his relative freshness to power away from Pogacar in the decisive moment.