Tadej Pogacar has clinched his third Tour de France victory in a historic finale, as the 111th edition of the race concluded with an unprecedented time trial from Monaco to Nice on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The 25-year-old Slovenian maintained his commanding lead of over 5 minutes against his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, securing not only the yellow jersey but also achieving the rare Giro-Tour double.The final stage, a challenging 33.7km individual time trial featuring climbs to La Turbie and Col d’Èze before descending into Nice, saw Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel claim victory. Evenepoel, the reigning world champion in time trials, showcased his prowess on a course that included a 1.6 km climb at 8.1% gradient.Meanwhile, the cycling world bid farewell to sprint legend Mark Cavendish, who completed what he called his ‘probable’ last Tour de France. Cavendish, who earlier in the race secured his record-breaking 35th stage win, finished the Tour in last place overall, earning him the symbolic ‘lanterne rouge’. The 39-year-old British cyclist expressed gratitude for his career, stating, “I was very happy to have had this career. I lived my dream”.The Tour’s conclusion in Nice, rather than the traditional finish in Paris, marked a significant change due to the upcoming Olympic Games. This shift provided a unique backdrop for Pogacar’s triumph and Cavendish’s farewell, with thousands of fans lining the Promenade des Anglais to witness cycling history.As the curtain falls on this year’s Tour, attention now turns to the future. Pogacar’s dominance suggests he may continue to shape the sport in years to come, while emerging talents like French cyclist Kévin Vauquelin hint at an exciting future for the sport.
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar secured his third Tour de France victory, completing a Giro-Tour double.
- Remco Evenepoel won the final stage time trial from Monaco to Nice.
- Mark Cavendish finished his last Tour de France, ending his career with a record 35 stage wins.
- The Tour concluded in Nice instead of Paris for the first time due to the upcoming Olympics.
