The marquee has been dismantled, but feelings resist, cling to this journey that lasts long after the finish line. On Saturday, Thibaut Pinot shared the emotions of a lifetime and, on Sunday, Jonas Vingegaard dragged questions about his relentless domination to the Champs-Élysées parade. Fine as a host, painted yellow, the Dane has, without letting anything show, finished as he ran. In the service of efficiency, of a project, of the omnipotence of a team that weighs everything, analyzes, dissects, decides the race, leaves crumbs, but often abandons spectators and rivals coldly.
Far from controversy, Thibaut Pinot, during the last mountain stage of his career, triggered, the day before the parade in Paris (sprint won by the Belgian Jordi Meeus), a torrent of emotions. The thrill crossed the Vosges and danced much further, upset viewers. Conquering the impossible, by splitting the crowd of his faithful, he went to pick the most beautiful of victories, that of pleasure, of sharing. The Tour sublimates certain actors, tears away from the hassles of everyday life those who follow in its footsteps. Far from the discreet tattoo, in Italian, on his right arm (“Only victory is beautiful”), Thibaut Pinot defended a desire. With the strength of dreams and limits. Which made him an open book in which the spectators have always recognized themselves, believed. Embracing his moments of glory without moderation, wiping away his tears and setbacks. The Franc-Comtois has never won the Tour. He just brushed against it.
He did not triumph in the 20th stage of the Tour (pleasure won with pride by Tadej Pogacar in front of Jonas Vingegaard), but the essential was elsewhere. Stuck in the corner of the eyes. Punctuated by intense heartbeats. The Groupama-FDJ rider has never been burned by the rays of a blinding sun. It was the price of his freedom, of his honor. The Tour will not forget its rides, especially not the ultimate, the last fires of a magnificent loser slipped into the guestbook of an edition which, as in 2022, staged an intense duel, won once again by Jonas Vingegaard.
The Dane (26), who in 2017 was still canning fish in a warehouse, in the wake of a phenomenal time trial (in Combloux, 16 stage), accompanied by amazement, crushed the suspense. Before continuing on his way, cluttered with the weight of doubt. Like others before him…
“I don’t take anything that I wouldn’t give to my 2-year-old daughter,” the Dane said. Richard Plugge, the manager of the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma, told AFP that the yellow jersey was even reluctant to take paracetamol. “I am not much stronger than last year, but I continued to progress, and I did not experience, unlike 2022, any health problems during the spring”, developed Vingegaard.
“Jonas in yellow is something very special. The starting point for the team was to find the right riders. Like Jonas, although at the time we didn’t think he would be able to win the Tour. Then the team was built, worked on diet, strategy, equipment, training in altitude camps and coaching staff to ensure that everyone was at a high level. Sponsors have helped us build a stronger team. The best in the world”, summarizes Frans Maassen, one of the sports directors of the Jumbo-Visma training.
At the top of this building, Jonas Vingegaard, who will star in the next Tour of Spain (August 26-September 17), is already announcing: “I will probably try to win the Tour again next year.” Facing him, he should find Tadej Pogacar (24), winner of the Grande Boucle in 2020 and 2021, little prince of the four seasons, able to shine in all race formats at the risk of getting scattered; who gave everything to maintain the hope of a reversal of the situation. Before collapsing. And to blow, bravado: “Jonas (Vingegaard) was phenomenal. He had very good days and I had the two worst days of my career. But it was I who fell in love and not the Jumbo-Vismas that made me fall in love…”
In 2024, the Tour will start for the first time from Italy (26th big departure from abroad in its history), will combine romantic routes and athletic passages for full-bodied explanations of entry. The Belgian Remco Evenepoel dreams of being the third man. Another story. The Tour and its sentimental crowd will seek to capture the thrill and wrap itself in emotion. The one that transports, welds, comforts. Often stronger than victory encumbered with the price of danger…
FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION: 1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/TJV) 82h 5’42’’; 2. Pogacar (SLO / UAD) at 7’29”; 3. A. Yates (GBR / UAD) at 10’56”; 4. S. Yates (GBR/JAY) at 12’23”; 5. Rodríguez (ESP / IGD) at 13’17”; 6. Bilbao (ESP / TBV) at 13’27”; 7. Hindley (AUS/BOH) at 14:44; 8. Gall (AUT / ACT) at 16:09; 9. Gaudu (FRA / GFC) at 23’08”; 10. Martin (FRA/COF) at 26’30”; 11. Pinot (FRA / GFC) at 28’3’’…
Belgian Lotte Kopecky won the 1st stage of the Tour de France women and donned the yellow jersey on Sunday in Clermont-Ferrand.
