Tour de France Stage 21: Tadej Pogačar wins third Tour de France title

Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar won the 2024 Tour de France with yet another commanding stage victory during Sunday’s time trial.

Pogačar is now the first man in the 21st century to win both the Giro D’Italia and Tour de France in the same season after winning six individual Tour stages along his way to the overall victory. The Slovenian won his third Tour de France following his victories in 2020 and 2021. He has now successfully reclaimed the title from rival Jonas Vingegaard, the 2022 and 2023 champion.

"I cannot describe how happy I am after two hard years in the Tour de France," Pogačar said after his victory. "This year everything (went) to perfection, I’m out of words.

"This is the first Grand Tour where I was totally confident every day," Pogačar added.

After three weeks of exhilarating competition between the sport’s greatest rivalry in Pogačar and Vingegaard, historic moments and over 2,000 miles of racing, this year’s final stage was historic as it switched Paris’ Champs-Élysées for the Promenade des Anglais. This year was the first time the finish line was not in or near Paris because the city is hosting the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The time trial included a 21-mile ride from Monaco to Nice, France, with rolling hills and an overall elevation gain of 695m − not a negligible figure but significantly less inclined than the recent mountainous stages. Pogačar led rivals Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel through every checkpoint of today's time trial. This year was the first time since 1989 that the competition ended with a time trial.

Although Vingegaard did not achieve a coveted three-peat, his inspiring runner-up performance was an extraordinary feat considering he returned to competition after having suffered serious injuries that hospitalized him for 12 days in April.

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel rounded out the general classification podium following a third-place finish in today's time trial. This result is an outstanding achievement for the 24-year-old who made his Tour de France debut this year. Evenepoel also won the white jersey, awarded to the best young rider, with a commanding lead. He will surely be one to watch in the future.

Looking forward, Pogačar said he will now turn his focus to the World Road Championships in September, where he will take on reigning World Champion Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands.

"Van der Poel looks really good in the World Championships jersey, but I want to take it from him this year," Pogačar said. "We’ll see."

USA Today Sports provided live updates during the final stage of the Tour de France:

Here are the final general classification standings for the 2024 Tour de France:

Here are the final jersey standings for the 2024 Tour de France:

• Yellow (general classification): Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

• Green (points classification): Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)

• White (young rider classification): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)

• Polka dot (mountains classification): Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

• Yellow numbers (teams classification): UAE Team Emirates

Here are the rankings for Stage 21 of the Tour de France:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 45min 24sec

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 2sec

3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) +1min 13sec

4. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +2min 7sec

5. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +2min 17sec

6. Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) +2min 31sec

7. Mikel Landa (Soudal-Quick-Step) +2min 41sec

8. Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) +2min 50sec

9. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) +2min 53sec

10. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) +2min 56sec

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar wins the time trial and the 2024 Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar is your 2024 Tour de France Champion. Just when you thought Pogačar could not be any more dominant, the Slovenian beat rival Jonas Vingegaard and World Time Trial Champion Remco Evenopoel to win the final stage of the Tour de France and seal his general classification victory. The Slovenian is now the only person in the 21st century to win the Giro D’Italia and Tour de France in the same season.

Pogačar looks unstoppable 

Pogačar is on the brink of victory having just passed through the third and final checkpoint over a minute faster than rival Vingegaard.

American Matteo Jorgenson overtakes Harold Tejada as Stage 21 leader

Jorgenson has improved upon Harold Tejada’s time to become the current leader of today’s time trial in 47 minutes and 32 seconds despite a minor crash along the route. The general classification riders are still on the course and are on track to beat Jorgenson's time.

Tadej Pogačar extends lead over Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel

Pogačar passed through the second checkpoint 24 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 51 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. The Slovenian is on track to win his sixth stage of the Tour on his way to officially winning his third Tour de France yellow jersey.

Tadej Pogačar establishes early lead over Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel

Pogačar led the golden trio through the first checkpoint, reaching the mark seven seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 26 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. These margins are currently too slim to make a difference in the general classification standings.

Richard Carapaz caps off successful Tour de France with polka-dotted jersey win

Carapaz has finished the time trial within the time limit, concluding a successful Tour de France and officially securing the polka-dotted jersey, which recognizes the field’s best climber. He is the first Ecuadorian man to win this jersey.

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogaçar starts final stage looking to win his third Tour de France 

Yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogaçar of UAE Team Emirates has officially started the final stage of what is likely to be his third Tour de France victory. Pogaçar has had such a dominant Tour that he should win the general classification standings barring any disaster such as a serious fall.

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard begins 

The 2022 and 2023 Tour de France Champion has started the time trial. The current runner-up in the yellow jersey standings, Vingegaard trails Pogaçar by over five minutes. Although only a catastrophe from Pogaçar could hand Vingegaard the win, the Dane has much to be proud of after returning to competition following serious injuries from a crash in April.

Remco Evenpoel is off!

Belgium’s Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep has started the time trial as the favorite to win today’s stage with the best time trial ability on paper. The white jersey wearer is the reigning World Time Trial Champion and edged out Tadej Pogačar to win the only other time trial of this Tour de France. Evenepoel is currently in third place in the general classification standings, approximately eight minutes behind lead Tadej Pogačar. Although he most likely will not be able to catch Pogačar or Vingegaard, he should be in a good position to defend his third-place podium position as well as his white jersey, which signifies the best young rider of the Tour.

Matteo Jorgenson falls

Jorgenson appeared to slip while zooming around a bend but promptly got up and resumed cycling. He appears to be okay.

Hometown hero Romain Bardet finishes his Tour de France

France’s Romain Bardet of Team dsm–firmenich PostNL has officially concluded what is expected to be his last Tour de France. The hometown favorite finished to resounding cheers to cap off one of the most successful French cycling careers of this generation. Although Bardet will finish outside of the top 10 in the general classification standings, Bardet got his storybook ending with a victory during the first stage of the Tour.

American Matteo Jorgenson starts time trial

Jorgenson, 25, has started the route from Monaco to Nice. He is the highest-ranked American on the general classification leaderboard, standing in eighth place after Stage 20 following a particularly successful second half of the Tour.

The first of the general classification leaders are off 

Italy’s Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek was the first of the top 10 general classification leaders to start the time trial. The race is heating up as the rest of the top contenders prepare to tackle the course.

Richard Carapaz sets off

Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz of EF Education–EasyPost has started the time trial. If he finishes within the time limit, he will officially become the first Ecuadorian to win the polka-dotted jersey that signifies the Tour’s best climber. He was already named the super-combative rider of the Tour earlier this morning.

Wout van Aert finishes an underwhelming Tour de France 

Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike has finished his 2024 Tour de France with a time of 53 minutes and 38 seconds in the time trial, good for 74th place so far in today’s standings. The 29-year-old Belgian was the first of the realistic contenders for today’s stage win to set off. Van Aert has won nine individual Tour stages during his career, including two individual time trials, but did not come away with a stage victory this year despite several top-10 finishes.

American Neilson Powless finishes Tour de France with fourth-fastest time trial so far

Powless finished the time trial in 49 minutes and nine seconds, 55 seconds behind current leader Harold Tejada. He now sits in fourth place in today’s stage rankings with the best general classification riders, including American Matteo Jorgenson, still to come.

Harold Tejada overtakes Lenny Martinez in Stage 21 standings

Harold Tejada of Astana Qazaqstan has improved on Frenchman Lenny Martinez’s time to take a 10-second lead. The Colombian now leads today’s time trial standings with a mark of 48 minutes and 14 seconds. The field’s best general classification riders are still to come.

Mark Cavendish gives emotional interview

Cavendish spoke to the media after he finished the time trial.

"It was just about enjoying it," Cavendish said of today's stage. "There’s no pressure for me today, which is strange for a final stage of the Tour. I knew my family were waiting at the finish and I was just absorbing it. I think I got all the emotions out of the way yesterday and I could really just enjoy today."

Cavendish also confirmed that today’s stage was "likely" his last professional race and reflected on his career.

"I feel very lucky to have had the career I’ve had, to work with the people I have, to meet the people I have and be able to live the dream," Cavendish said. "You see the success, you see the photos of wins, videos of wins, but it’s rare people see everything that goes in behind, everything that makes it. It’s taught me a lot about myself, it’s taught me a lot about how to be a father, and that’s the biggest thing I take from the sport."

What is the green jersey in the Tour de France?

The green jersey is awarded to the best overall rider in the points classification. Points are awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints during stages, so the jersey usually designates the best overall sprinter of the Tour. Eritrea's Biniam Girmay was awarded the green jersey this year.

Why is the Tour de France not finishing in Paris?

The Tour de France will not finish in or near Paris for the first time in history because of the ongoing preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Instead, the race will finish in the southeastern French city of Nice. The finish line is located at the Promenade des Anglais − Nice's version of Paris' Champs-Elysée, the traditional finish of the tour.

Read more about the historic decision here.

Biniam Girmay officially makes history as first Black green jersey winner

After finishing Stage 21 within the time limit, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Intermarché-Wanty is officially the first Black rider in history to win the points classification. Girmay has had a stellar Tour de France, establishing himself as the best sprinter of the field with his three stage victories and green jersey win, even after suffering injuries that required stitches during Stage 16.

Jasper Philipsen finishes his Tour de France

Choosing to contest the stage with a road bike instead of a time trial bike, Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen has finished the time trial in 52 minutes and 55 seconds. After a disappointing start to the competition, Philipsen turned his fortunes around, winning three sprint stages, but ultimately lost his battle for the green jersey to Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay.

Mark Cavendish finishes final Tour de France

One of the greatest sprinters in history has officially said farewell to cycling’s most iconic competition. Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish, 39, crossed the Tour de France finish line for the final time in a time of 54 minutes and 38 seconds. The Brit was set to retire at the end of last season but returned for a final Tour de France after he crashed out of last year’s race. Cavendish finally got his fairytale ending to his inspiring career during this year’s Stage 5, where he sprinted to victory for a record-breaking 35th career Tour de France stage win. It’s safe to say Cavendish accomplished what he came for (and more).

Biniam Girmay has started!

Green jersey wearer Biniam Girmay of Eritrea is now on the course. Girmay has had a breakout performance during this year’s competition, picking up three stage wins with his fierce sprint finishes. Despite a crash during Stage 16 that left Girmay needing stitches, the Eritrean edged out Jasper Philipsen for the green jersey (points classification). All Girmay needs to do is complete the trial within the time limit and he will become the first Black rider in history to win the green jersey accolade.

Polka-dotted jersey wearer Richard Carapaz wins super-combative rider award

After votes from a jury and the public, Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz has been named the super-combative rider of this year’s Tour de France. Carapaz made history as the first Ecuadorian to win an individual Tour stage with his Stage 17 victory and the first to win the mountains classification after yesterday’s final group racing stage.

And they're off!

Italy's Davide Ballerini was the first to set off on the course, just ahead of his Astana Qazaqstan teammate Mark Cavendish, who is beginning his final Tour de France stage of his illustrious, record-breaking career.

Start times finalized

There will be a staggered start to the individual time trial with 90 seconds between each rider. The cyclists will start in reverse order of the general classification standings, with yellow jersey wearer Pogačar beginning the stage last at 12:45 p.m. ET. Italy's Davide Ballerini will be the first to start at 8:40 am ET.

Tour de France general classification standings after Stage 20

Here's what the general classification standings look like heading into the final stage.

Tour de France jersey standings after Stage 20

Here's what the individual jersey leaderboard looks like heading into the final stage. Barring any catastrophe from the leaders, these standings are unlikely to change unless the leaders fail to finish the time trial.

• Yellow (general classification): Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

• Green (points classification): Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty)

• White (young rider classification): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)

• Polka dot (mountains classification): Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

• Yellow numbers (teams classification): UAE Team Emirates

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wins third Tour de France title