Jumbo-Visma rider Jonas Vingegaard defended his Tour de France title over the weekend, once again beating Tadej Pogacar to take the yellow jersey on the Champs Élysées. 

Vingegaard ensured a repeat of 2022 as he came down the cobbles of the Champs Élysées on Sunday, arm-in-arm with his teammates, to take the yellow jersey.

Monaco resident Pogacar was left frustrated as he struggled to match Vingegaard’s pace, particularly in the latter stages of the tour. A time trial victory on Tuesday, followed by a victory in Wednesday’s queen stage, had sealed it for Danish Vingegaard, making Slovenian Pogacar’s victory on Saturday inconsequential.

A surprise sprint winner

Despite victory in the penultimate stage on Saturday, 24-year-old Pogacar finished seven minutes and 29 seconds behind 26-year-old Vingegaard. Britain’s Adam Yates, 30, finished third in the general classification, just ahead of twin brother Simon.

Sunday’s final stage is, by and large, a procession, with the yellow jersey winner already decided. However, winning the sprint on the iconic Champs Élysées is a dream for many riders.

25-year-old Jasper Philipsen of Belgium accomplished that dream last year and almost did so again in 2023. However, compatriot Jordi Meeus, also 25, beat Philipsen in a photo finish in what is his first attempt at the Tour.

Tour de France bids farewell to the Champs Élysées for now

Next year, the Arrivée won’t take place in Paris, but along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais. Due to France’s hosting of the Olympics, the final stage of the Tour will come instead to the south of France, with the final stage beginning in Monaco and heading down the coast towards Nice.

In what is becoming an increasingly enthralling rivalry, in 2024, Pogacar will be hoping to dispossess Vingegaard of that iconic yellow jersey on “home” turf.

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Photo credit: Gavin Anderson