Sunday, July 21 had arrived, and it was the day of the final stage of this year’s Tour de France. The individual time trial would be contested on a 33.7-kilometer hilly route from Monaco to Nice – where the 2024 Tour de France would reach its conclusion because Paris was busy preparing for the Olympics.

While the final battle against the clock had been eagerly anticipated by some, since it was the first time since 1989 the Tour would conclude with an individual time trial, it also meant spectators and riders would miss out on the traditional parade ride into Paris, which always involved champagne celebrations, magnificent historic architecture, the Champs-Elysees, and fireworks.

While the final individual time trial in stage 21 of the 1989 Tour de France had caused Greg Lemond to seize the overall Tour victory from Frenchman Laurent Fignon by just eight seconds, because Fignon was riding with long hair that caused wind drag, the top of the general classification of the 2024 Tour de France already appeared set before the final stage.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) entered the final stage with an advantage of more than five minutes over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike), while third-placed Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) was even more than eight minutes behind the Slovenian rider following his brave attempt in yesterday’s stage.

While many of the non-general classification riders and non-mountain goats had opted for a relaxing day in the gruppetto in yesterday’s final mountain stage, today there would rather be a need for fireworks in the rumpetto, as all remaining energy stored inside the riders would have to be channeled into the pedals in today’s individual time trial supernova.

The experts in the race-against-the-clock would have a chance to shine in today’s final stage and there was still the opportunity for some GC riders below the top three to fight their way to valuable advancements in the valuable top ten of the General Classification. Following a long and exhausting Tour, Vingegaard, Pogacar, and Evenepoel were expected to battle-it-out for the stage victory in today’s time trial.

Other riders could enjoy the day, take a somewhat easy day in the saddle on the roads of Monaco and possibly even sneak some champagne into their water bottle. A well-deserved vacation awaited the riders after the conclusion of today’s stage and some might even opt to spend their holidays around Nice – or in Monaco, home of the most fashionable, rich, and famous – plus large crowds and unaesthetic hotel architecture. Probably some of the professional cyclists in the Tour peloton had found time to place their wages and savings in bank accounts in tax haven Monaco and hire asset managers to handle their investments.

The route of today’s 33.7-kilometer individual time trial included a flat start in the streets of Monaco, followed by the categorized La Turbie climb (Category Two; 8.2 km; 5.7% gradient), the Col d’Eze, and concluded with a downhill battle to the finish line in Nice.

Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Astana) was one of the first starters. Cavendish was riding his final professional race and “the Manx Missile” was celebrated and applauded by massive crowds along the roads of Monaco. Cavendish had taken a record 35th Tour stage victory in this year’s Tour. His professional mission was complete, and he could now return to wife Peta Todd and their children.

Norway’s Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) also started their time trials. While the former had not managed to sprint his way to any stage wins in this year’s Tour, the latter had powered to no less than three stage victories.

Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) started his time trial. The Slovenian rider had had a disappointing Tour this year, following his stage win and top three stage finish in last year’s Tour.

Temperatures on today’s route reached twenty-seven degrees Celsius under somewhat cloudy skies. Riders in the professional Tour peloton were again spotted wearing their FlowBio hydration sensors below their skinsuits, which helped them optimize their time trial performance as well as possible in the warm weather.

Cavendish crossed the finish line in his final professional race and was applauded by spectators and received by his children and wife Peta Todd.

Team EF Education-EasyPost time trial specialist Stefan Bissegger started his time trial. The Swiss rider had not achieved any noteworthy personal results in this year’s Tour, but he had delivered very valuable support to teammates such as Richard Carapaz, Ben Healy, and Neilson Powless. Would Bissegger be able to show his worth in today’s time trial – or would the included climb be too much of a challenge for the Swiss master against the clock?

Points Classification Winner Biniam Girmay had also started his time trial and would be celebrated on the podium in Nice for his great feats in the sprints of this year’s Tour and for being the first African rider to win the green points jersey.

Frenchman Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) replaced Matej Mohoric in the hot seat as the temporary stage leader with the best finishing time.

Bissegger finished his time trial in the 14th best time. This had not been the day or the route for the persistent Swiss rider.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished in the third best time, but there were still many riders yet to start their time trials.

Berlin-resident Simon Geschke (Cofidis) completed his time trial and thanked the fans for their support. It was the final Tour de France for always courageous and full-bearded Geschke as the German rider will end his professional career when this season concludes.

Neilson Powless (Team EF Education-EasyPost) started his time trial. The American rider hadn’t delivered any major results for his team, which was a disappointment. He had, however, suffered from the effects of a crash and a Covid-19 infection during the race and hopefully his next races would bring him the better results he deserved.

Welshman Geraint Thomas was next to leave the start ramp and set out to deliver a noteworthy time trial performance – not least because it started in Monaco, where Thomas resides.

The Ineos-Grenadiers team, including Thomas himself, had not performed well in this year’s Tour de France, but Thomas had suffered from Covid-19 and the injuries sustained in a crash. Thomas is always dedicated to performing as well as possible in the races he participates in and the man who finished second in last year’s Giro d’Italia would hopefully be given another chance to shine on the roads of France. 

Harold Tejada set a new best time at the finish and replaced Martinez in the hot seat – for now.

Neilson Powless notably set the third-best time at Intermediate Timing Point 1. The American rider was eager to prove his worth in today’s stage and give it his best shot. He was fourth at Intermediate Timing Points 2 and 3 – he also had the fourth-best time when he crossed the finish line in Nice.

Thomas set the 27t h-best time at Intermediate Timing Point 2, so apparently the Welshman wasn’t riding all out in today’s final time trial and the team’s performances in the 2024 Tour might cause quite a stir with team owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Romain Bardet (Team DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was celebrated along the roads and the many fans bid farewell to the Frenchman who was completing his final Tour de France. Bardet even managed to win stage 1 from Firenze to Rimini in courageous and brilliant fashion.

Irishman Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) started his time trial as did Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) – the highest ranked Frenchman in the general classification.

Richard Carapaz left the start ramp wearing his polka-dot jersey as winner of the Best Climber Classification. The rider from EF Education-EasyPost had admirably also been crowned the most combative rider of the 2024 Tour.

Vingegaard’s lieutenant Matteo Jorgenson had started his time trial but slipped in a corner shortly after the start. The Americana rider got back on his bike and wanted to deliver a fine result for his team captain and to obtain his best possible classification result.

Fourth-ranked Joao Almeida left the start ramp. He was riding to obtain a great result in today’s time trial, to set the stage for his team captain Tadej Pogacar, and to protect his fourth place in the General Classification.

Third-best in the general classification Remco Evenepoel started his time trial. He was looking strong, and the time trial expert wanted a victory in today’s individual time trial.

Jonas Vingegaard launched at a very fast pace from the start ramp in Monaco. It looked as if he had something to prove in today’s time trial. There was no likely chance of reeling in yellow jersey-wearer Pogacar in the general classification, and third placed Evenepoel would not be able to catch the Dane either.

The final man on the start ramp was general classification leader and five stage winner Tadej Pogacar looking fabulous in his completely yellow skinsuit. Bam! The Slovenian powerhouse left the start box and set out to deliver an additional admirable result in this year’s Tour. 

It would take a miracle in Lourdes for the top three in the general classification to be shaken up in today’s final stage of this year’s Tour. 

Meanwhile, Carapaz was not even among the seventy best fastest riders at intermediate timing point 2. Frenchman Martin, on the other hand, was 17th.

Derek Gee (Team PremierTech) impressing set the fastest time at intermediate timing point 2. But the best riders in the general classification were yet to follow.

Remco Evenepoel was the first of the top three riders to reach intermediate timing point 1. The Belgian rider set a new fastest time. However, it did not take long before Vingegaard passed the timing point and set an even better time. The former Tour de France winner was nineteen seconds faster than the young Belgian.

Pogacar squashed Vingegaard’s time when he reached the intermediate timing point. The flying Slovenian in yellow was approximately seven seconds faster than Vingegaard.

Evenepoel smashed Derek Gee’s best time at Intermediate Timing Point 2. The best young rider of this year’s Tour was 47 seconds faster than Canadian Gee.

Vingegaard, however, was again faster than the Evenepoel and set a new fastest time.

Pogacar “the cannibal” wanted an additional stage victory and blast past Intermediate Timing Point 2 in a new best time. Pogacar was even riding today’s time trial in a less-than-optimal aerodynamic outfit as he was wearing an armband watch for his watch sponsor Richard Mille – and to be able to show his yellow DMT cycling shoes to the world he was not wearing shoe covers.

A dangerous descent now awaited the top three general classification riders to the finish line in Nice. Evenepoel, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel were all taking big chances on the descent. They were pushing their bikes to the limit and cornering like crazy to show each other who was boss.

Ineos-Grenadiers’ best man Carlos Rodriguez crossed the finish line in eleventh-best time. Rest was now prescribed for the exhausted Spaniard.

Pogacar was again best at Intermediate Timing Point 3 ahead of Vingegaard and Evenepoel. The best general classification riders were now approaching the finish line in Nice. The excited crowds were shouting to applaud the fastest riders on today’s course.

Evenepoel set a new fastest time when he crossed the finish line in Nice. An impressive performance by the young Belgian time trial specialist.

Vingegaard bettered the time by eleven seconds. But Pogacar had yet to reach the finish. The Slovenian yellow lightening pushed all the energy he had left in his legs into the pedals and took his sixth stage victory of this year’s Tour de France.

Pogacar won the time trial in 00 hours, 45 minutes, and 24 seconds. Vingegaard completed the course one minute and three seconds slower than the winner, while Evenepoel completed the stage podium, 01:14 minutes behind the Slovenian stage winner.

Tadej Pogacar is the winner of Tour de France 2024. Jonas Vingegaard finished second, while Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) completed the final general classification podium.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Tour de France 2024.

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