Stage 21 of the 2023 Tour de France saw a thrilling conclusion in Paris as Jordi Meeus of BORA-hansgrohe emerged victorious in a razor-thin sprint finish.
The final stage of the race started off as a relaxed procession toward the French capital, with riders enjoying the tradition of champagne toasts and photo opportunities.
However, once the peloton entered Paris, the atmosphere shifted from casual to competitive.
Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates was one of the main animators of the race, launching multiple attacks on the Champs-Elysées. With the cobblestones as his backdrop, the Slovenian seemed keen to add to his impressive Tour de France resume.
Meanwhile, the peloton kept a high pace, hitting speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) on the final laps of the 6.8 km circuit.
Riders were spread across the road in the final moments of the race, with a photo finish deciding the winner.
Jordi Meeus of BORA-hansgrohe edged out Jasper Philipsen in a heart-stopping sprint, securing his first-ever stage win in the Tour de France.
The Belgian rider, overjoyed with his victory, expressed his disbelief post-race.
At the same time, Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma crossed the line alongside his teammates, confirming his overall victory in the 2023 Tour de France.
“Everything Went Perfect”
Jordi Meeus, the man of the moment, was ecstatic about his victory. After a closely contested sprint, it was the photo finish that crowned him the winner.
“I strategically used the slipstream of Pedersen to take the lead at the line. This victory was the culmination of an impressive first Tour de France for me, and I’m super happy right now”.
“I just can’t believe it!”
“It’s Been a Super Hard Race and a Super Good Fight”
Speaking after his victory, Vingegaard expressed a mixture of pride and gratitude. The Jumbo-Visma rider thanked his team, family, and the people of Denmark for their unwavering support.
“It’s a feeling of being proud and happy – we’re winning it for the second time now. It’s really amazing”.
“It’s been a super hard race and a super good fight between me and Tadej. I enjoyed it all the way”.
The intense competition between Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar became one of the defining narratives of this year’s Tour. However, Vingegaard managed to maintain his edge, sealing his victory on the streets of Paris.
The triumph in France, however, does not signal an end to Vingegaard’s ambitions.
The Dane confirmed his participation in the upcoming Vuelta a España, alongside teammate Primoz Roglic.
This announcement demonstrates that even after a hard-fought victory in France, Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma have their sights set on continued success, with the goal of an unprecedented Grand Tour grand slam.
Tour De France 2023 Stage 21 Results
1. Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe/BEL): 2 Hours, 56 Minutes, 13 Seconds
2. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck/BEL): + 0 seconds
3. Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco Alula/NED): + 0 seconds
4. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek/DEN): + 0 seconds
5. Cees Bol (Astana Qazaqstan/NED): + 0 seconds
6. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty/ERI): + 0 seconds
7. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis/FRA): + 0 seconds
8. Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Pro Cycling/NOR): + 0 seconds
9. Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech/NZL): + 0 seconds
10. Luca Mozzato (Arkea-Samsic/ITA): + 0 seconds
Tour De France 2023 General Classification Standings After Stage 21
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma/DEN): 82 Hours, 05 Minutes, 42 Seconds
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates/SLO): + 7 minutes, 29 seconds
3. Adam Yates (UAE-Team Emirates/GBR): + 10 minutes, 56 seconds
4. Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla/GBR): + 12 minutes, 23 seconds
5. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers/SPA): + 13 minutes, 17 seconds
6. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious/SPA): + 13 minutes, 27 seconds
7. Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe/AUS): + 14 minutes, 44 seconds
8. Felix Gall (AG2R-Citroen/AUT): + 16 minutes, 09 seconds
9. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ/FRA): + 23 minutes, 08 seconds
10. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis/FRA): + 26 minutes, 30 seconds
Tour de France 2023 Jerseys
- Yellow Jersey: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma/DEN)
- Green Jersey: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck/BEL)
- Polka Dot Jersey: Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek/ITA)
- White Jersey: Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates/SLO)
