The Tour de France 2024: When Tadej Pogačar becomes a legend

Ah, my friends, what an exceptional Tour de France we have experienced this year! The 2024 Tour de France will remain etched in our memories as the edition where Tadej Pogačar confirmed his status as a phenomenon of modern cycling. Let me tell you about this epic adventure that ended under the sun of the Côte d'Azur.

A historic finale in Nice

For the first time in its 111-year history, the Tour de France said goodbye to Paris for its final stage. It was on the legendary Promenade des Anglais in Nice that the riders faced off in a final time trial. And guess what? Our Slovenian prodigy, Tadej Pogačar, struck again by winning this final stage. As if dominating for three weeks wasn't enough for him!

Pogačar: the undisputed boss

At just 25 years old, Pogačar delivered an absolutely mind-blowing performance. Imagine: 6 stage wins, 5 of which with the yellow jersey on his back! It's like he was playing in another category. The kid (if you can still call him that) literally flew over the race, leaving his opponents light years away.

This third Tour de France title comes on top of his victories in 2020 and 2021. But wait, that's not all! Our champion achieved the monumental feat of winning the Giro and the Tour in the same year. The last time we saw that? It was in 1998 with the late Marco Pantani. A quarter of a century later, Pogačar is bringing this legendary double back into fashion.

A top UAE Emirates team

Of course, behind every great champion is a team of warriors. The guys from UAE Emirates were impressive throughout the three weeks. They maneuvered with remarkable tactical intelligence, dominating the plains as well as the mountains. It's beautiful to see such cohesion in a team!

Jonas Vingegaard: Courage personified

Let's talk a little about Pogačar's runner-up, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard. What courage, my friends! The two-time defending champion managed the feat of getting on the podium just a few weeks after a terrifying fall in the Basque Country. Pneumothorax, multiple fractures... many would have thrown in the towel, but not our Viking! He gritted his teeth and fought until the end, giving Pogačar a magnificent battle.

Sprinters in the spotlight

The Tour is not just about the fight for the yellow jersey. This year, we were treated to some great spectacle in the sprints. Mark Cavendish, the living legend, took his record to 35 stage wins. A dizzying figure that is likely to hold for a long time!

But the real surprise came from Eritrea. Biniam Girmay made history by becoming the first African to win the green jersey. What pride for an entire continent! We saw incredible scenes of jubilation in the streets of Asmara. That is also the magic of the Tour: making millions of people around the world dream.

A Tour looking to the future

This 2024 edition has shown us that cycling is evolving. With riders like Girmay, we are seeing the emergence of a more diverse peloton, more representative of the world we live in. This is excellent news for this sport that we love so much.

In conclusion, this Tour de France 2024 will remain in the annals as the one of the confirmation of Tadej Pogačar in the pantheon of cycling, but also as an edition full of emotions, courage and hope for the future. Looking forward to next year for new adventures on the roads of France!