Spectacular, fast and exhausting for the 135 survivors. The Tour, whose 21st and last stage was won by the Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen, will go down in the history of the race for the new average record (42 km/h) that he set, the intensity of the fight daily and also the first defeat of the defending champion, Tadej Pogacar.
Big favorite at the start of Copenhagen on July 1, the young Slovenian (23) justified his status throughout the first week and at the entrance to the Alps. Until his failure in the last five kilometers of the Col du Granon, the turning point of the race in the austere setting of the high mountains and the start of the takeover of his Danish rival, the second in the Tour 2021, which carried the yellow jersey until the end of some 3,350 kilometres.
"We made, me and my team, a lot of small mistakes. I learned a lot in this Tour", admitted Pogacar, who however intends to follow his playful temperament and remain faithful to his offensive way of running, at the risk of the prodigality.
Vingegaard also made mistakes, nearly falling several times and even touching the ground on the approach to Carcassonne. But they were overcome with the help of his efficient team, and especially van Aert, inexhaustible.
- In the Jumbo mold -
The Belgian, decisive on several occasions and winner of the points classification, notably saved him from confusion in the cobblestone stage, fatal to Primoz Roglic, the other leader of the Jumbo team, before often patrolling the before and actually decide the control of the race.
Unlike Pogacar, with obvious ease from the start, Vingegaard has built himself methodically in the Jumbo mold, a worthy heir to the all-powerful Sky. He learned to win and to heal his mental vulnerability, as evidenced by the eagerness shown each day to make a phone call to his companion Trine Hansen as soon as the line was crossed. "To share the emotion," he says.
In the absence of authority and charisma, Vingegaard seduced his compatriots who gave him an ovation at the start of Copenhagen. But, if he expects "a crazy week" in his country which had enthusiastically welcomed the first Grand Départ, he wonders about the consequences to come on his life.
Far from being overconfident, he says he is determined to return for a second victory, given his performance at high altitude and in the summit finishes (two stage victories, in the Col du Granon and in Hautacam). Without considering a series-record, he who posted at the start of the Tour a meager record of seven victories.
- "Very impressive" -
Beyond the numbers and its average speed, the Tour gave rise to an almost daily fight at the start of the 21 stages and a fierce struggle due to the offensive strategies of the leading teams.
"Very impressive", admitted Christian Prudhomme installed in the managerial car which opens the race. Very tiring too, for a peloton vulnerable to the hot weather, often present throughout the three weeks, and to Covid-19, which sent home 17 runners (out of 176 at the start).
But, underlined the Welshman Geraint Thomas, whose Ineos training is now satisfied with a place on the podium (third), the teams are more and more professional, in search of performance down to the detail, and the riders are getting better and better. better prepared for this athletic contest. Sportingly speaking, the Tour is changing eras but it retains an incomparable level of rigor.
