A final lap of honour. Or rather eight. After Thibaut Pinot’s last stand in “his” bend this Saturday, the peloton treated itself to a parade in Hauts-de-Seine (92) before gradually accelerating during the eight loops completed in the streets of Paris. After 115 kilometers during this 21st and final stage of this Tour de France 2023, Jordi Meeus raised his arms on the Champs-Élysées.
After 21 stages, more than 3400 km of road and around thirty passes climbed, the peloton of survivors of the 2023 edition has finished with the Tour de France. The kick-off of this last day was given from Yvelines, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the opportunity to wink at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games since the track events will take place there, as well as those of mountain biking, in the surroundings. The most prestigious of cycling races has ended its course in the streets of the capital, which it will not find again before… 2025 since the next edition will end with a time trial in the streets of Nice (with a departure from Monaco). As always, the first kilometers were dedicated to the celebrations of the different teams and the different distinctive jerseys. For the beauty of the gesture, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) attacked from kilometer zero to honor his super-combative prize and Giulio Ciccone in the polka dot jersey went to the top of the Pavé des Gardes hill, the only listed difficulty of the day to celebrate a little more his best climber’s tunic which he is proud to wear on the podium in Paris. In the end of the stage, 50km from the line, the pace quickened and the first fugitives took to the front. Like his Tour de France, the white jersey Tadej Pogacar with panache went one last time to the front to thank the public and finish in style. In the final wrap, the sprinter teams controlled well to make sure they got to the sprint.
As often, the Champs-Élysées have been the scene of great surprises in recent years, such as the victories of Dylan Groenewegen in 2017 and Alexander Kristoff in 2018. This year, it is Jordi Meeus who is creating the sensation by winning by nothing ahead of Jasper Philipsen. A Belgian can hide another, on the same line, it is at the throw of the bike that the sprinter from Bora snatches the stage in the green jersey, from Dylan Groenewegen and Mads Pedersen. Much criticized for his selection on this Tour at the expense of Sam Bennett, Jordi Meeus silenced his detractors by winning the first big success of his career. La Bora brings its total to two stage victories after that of Jai Hindley at Laruns. Jonas Vingegaard wins his second Tour de France with a historic gap of 7 minutes and 29 seconds, the biggest difference since 2014 and Vincenzo Nibali’s victory. Briton Adam Yates (UAE) completes the podium at ‘10.56” from the Dane. The first Frenchman overall was David Gaudu who finished ninth more than 23 minutes behind the Dane, Guillaume Martin finished 10th at 26 minutes and 30 seconds.