Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) secured victory in the 21st stage of the Tour de France, triumphing in a closely contested finish on Sunday. He broke away with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on the final ascent of the Montmartre climb in Paris. The duo maintained a lead over a chasing group, with Van der Poel ultimately winning the stage by a bike length ahead of his teammate Jasper Philipsen. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), wearing the green jersey, finished third.
The general classification times were decided before the final three laps involving the Montmartre climb. This allowed Tadej Pogačar to confirm his fifth overall win at the Tour de France. Pogačar’s teammate, Isaac Del Toro, secured third place overall and the best young rider classification, despite experiencing a mechanical issue. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) finished second overall.
Pogačar’s Dominance and Stage Wins
Tadej Pogačar maintained a strong position throughout the race, never dropping below fourth in the general classification. He first claimed the yellow jersey on stage three, briefly ceded it, and then reclaimed the race lead on stage six, holding it until the end. His performance included five stage wins, contributing to his record-equalling fifth overall victory.
The final stage, originally scheduled for 133km, was shortened to 89km, with the start moved to the Champs Elysées. The race began with seven laps of the traditional 6.8km circuit before heading to three longer circuits that included the Montmartre climb. This final circuit had been adjusted from the previous year, extending the ride from the top of the climb to the finish line to 10.4km, which allowed sprinters a greater chance to rejoin the main group.
Dramatic Final Kilometres
The general classification times were announced to be decided before the first of the three Montmartre laps, with 41km remaining. After a period of parade laps, UAE Team Emirates-XRG gradually increased the pace, and attacks began on the third lap with 75km to go. Early attackers included Baptiste Viestroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), who held a lead until just after the intermediate sprint on the fifth circuit.
Later, Xabier Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Thibaut Guernalec (TotalEnergies) formed a breakaway, building a 50-second lead as they headed for the first Montmartre lap. However, the peloton’s pace increased, and they were caught at the top of the climb. Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar were among the riders at the front during the descent.
In the final moments, Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) launched an early attack on the last ascent, but was dropped when Van der Poel made his move, again with Pogačar. The two leaders maintained a 12-second advantage with 5km remaining. Despite the peloton closing in, Van der Poel held on for the win in a dramatic finish.
Robbie McEwen described the finale as “absolutely brilliant,” highlighting the collaboration between Pogačar and Van der Poel. Van der Poel reflected on his win as a “dream” that came true after a year of planning, stating he went “as hard as I could” in the final 500 metres. The top ten finishers in Paris included Mathieu Van Der Poel, Jasper Philipsen, Mads Pedersen, Max Kanter, Olav Kooij, Matej Mohoric, Rick Pluimers, Anthony Turgis, Milan Fretin, and Clement Russo.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”