UAE Team Emirates XRG's Tadej Pogacar celebrates after crossing the finish line while wearing the yellow jersey after stage 21 to win the Tour de France. SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
Tadej Pogacar closed out a supreme 21-day performance to win the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday, July 27, crushing his rivals in the 3,400 km slog to rack up a fourth title.
Wout van Aert won the final-day cliffhanger on the cobbled roads of Montmartre, but Pogacar was spared any late challenge when rain forced times to be neutralized to avoid potential accidents. Pogacar gamely tried for the stage win anyway before Belgian Van Aert pulled away from the Slovenian on the last climb. The winner was clearly enjoying himself as he played to the delighted crowds, racing to the head of the peloton near the Moulin Rouge cabaret at the foot of the climb.
Despite the rain, spectators packed Montmartre to follow his progress up and down the narrow lanes of the popular tourist spot in his leader's yellow outfit. Van Aert produced a well-timed attack to drop Pogacar and charge to the Champs-Elysées finish line, for his second last-day stage win there.
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