Philipsen won on the Champs-Élysées in the Danish cycling festival – Kristoff number three
After eight charmless rounds in Paris, Philipsen flexed his sprinting muscles and won the 21st stage of this year’s Tour de France on the venerable Champs-Élysées.
Sunday’s triumph is the Belgians’ second stage victory in this year’s Tour de France.
– I can not believe it. It’s a childhood dream come true. It will take time before it sinks in, said Philipsen in the victory interview.
The final Tour de France stage culminated as expected in a mass sprint in the French capital. There Philipsen was strongest ahead of Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff.
– Today we were focused and tried to be there, and then we were up there. I missed Jasper a bit in the superstroke, but it was “close” behind there, so it was good, Alexander Kristoff told TV 2 after the intense finish.
With a famous Danish visit from Crown Prince Frederik and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the French capital, a yellow-clad Jonas Vingegaard sailed in for his first overall victory in his career. It is the Danes’ second overall victory in the Tour de France ever.
– It has been a fantastic trip. Folkefest and Denmark colored in red, white and yellow. It is difficult not to be proud, Frederiksen wrote on Instagram earlier Sunday.
The Danish 25-year-old has delivered an almost perfect Tour de France, among other things by smashing Slovenian rival Tadej Pogacar on the 11th and 18th stages.
I add to phenomenal performances from Vingegaard himself, the team has delivered his Jumbo-Visma to dice roll 6 in this year’s Tour de France. The Danish overall winner (2), Wout van Aert (3) and Christophe Laporte have ensured a total of six stage victories for the Dutch team.
Danish bicycle festival
This year’s Tour de France has been a single-layer triumph for the Danes.
After a three-day cycling festival in Denmark, where Magnus Cort, among others, raced into the dotted climbing jersey, the Danish dominance began in earnest as the cycling circus slowly approached the Alps.
On the 10th stage, Cort made a strong break, and was strongest when the hilly stage was decided Megève.
The following day, Vingegaard was in a class of his own up the Col du Granon, took over the yellow leader’s jersey from Pogacar, and at the same time secured a perfect starting point for the tour.
Days later, it was Mads Pedersen’s turn to write himself into the dream history of the Danes’ Tour de France. In a duel with two other riders, he sprinted to stage victory in Saint-Étienne.
The Danish party was complete when Vingegaard again demonstrated great strength when he practically decided the overall race by winning the 18th stage to Hautacam.
Fresh Tour debutant
For the Norwegians, the greatest achievements have been absent.
Alexander Kristoff, who many had hoped would assert himself on the flat stages, had “only” two fourth places to show for this year’s race before Sunday’s podium.
One of Tadej Pogacar’s most important helpers before this year’s Tour, Vegard Stake Laengen, had to break the race before the 8th stage after a positive corona test.
In the absence of the big performances, Tour debutant Andreas Leknessund has made a positive mark.
On the 10th stage, the tromsøværing broke down and delivered a solid 8th place. In the last week of the race, the 23-year-old has distinguished himself both in breaks and at the front of the main field. Leknessund crowns his Tour de France debut with a 4th place in the battle for the white youth jersey.
(© NTB)