Tour de France stage 21 Live – Hilly Nice time trial provides the Tour’s final test
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Derek Gee (IPT) goes fastest at the first time check by seven seconds. Jorgenson (TVL) also not far away.
Bike change
Simon Yates (JAY) goes second at the second time check at just +28″ down on Lenny Martinez (GFC) who still leads at that split. Of course, Tejada (AST) bettered him at the finish.
Tadej Pogačar (UAD) signalling that he isn’t hearing his radio or he isn’t hearing enough from the car. He is clearly keen to go for a sixth stage win.
Richard Carapaz (EFE) is well down at the second time check. Well over three minutes down. Behind him, Guillaume Martin (COF) is much better as he is +1’34” down.
Will it be between these two this evening?
The rider set to win the 111th Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar (UAD), starts his ride. He has a gap of over five minutes on Vingegaard (TVL) and he appears to be going for it to begin with.
Second overall, Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) sets off after what has been an incredible performance and an inspirational showing of determination and perseverance.
Into the final three we go and it is the world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) who launches off the start ramp looking to double up on the Tour time trials.
Former Portuguese TT champion, João Almeida (UAD), sets off. He could be right up there for the stage today. Definitely a profile that suits him.
Mikel Landa (SOQ) has now started his effort. He will likely hold onto fifth as he has a good buffer over Yates (UAD), but he will likely lose a lot of time to those above him.
Romain Bardet (DFP) finishes with a solid time actually. He won stage one. Got yellow for a day. He finishes the Tour de France for one final time in 19th +2’07” down behind Harold Tejada (AST).
Adam Yates (UAD) sets off on his ride. Now only five riders are left to ride. Meanwhile, Romaind Bardet (DFP) who is into his final Tour de France kilometre.
Crash!
Carlos Rodríguez (IGD) sets off as he looks to defend seventh and maybe attack Adam Yates (UAD) who is just one second ahead of him.
Eighth place in GC, Matteo Jorgenson (TVL) has set off on his ride. Winner of this year’s Paris-Nice, of course. He will have great memories on the roads around Nice.
Former Canadian national champion, Derek Gee (IPT), sets off where he starts in 9th place on GC. He wasn’t going to be a GC rider at all until he put in a magnificent display at the Dauphine.
Into the top 10 in the GC and Giulio Ciccone (LTK) sets off on his ride. He has about half a minute on Buitrago (TBV).
Away from France, Peter Sagan bids a final farewell to racing at the Slovakian mountain bike championships where he finished second. 121 wins on the road. 3 times world road race champion. 7 times green jersey winner. His last road win was the Slovakian road race championships back in 2022.
Simon Yates (JAY) starts riding his final stage of this year’s Tour de France. He was improving in this final week. I wonder if we shall see him at La Vuelta.
Warm up time for Tadej Pogačar (UAD) and the other GC riders…
Richard Carapaz (EFE) sets off in his splendid polka dot skinsuit and specially made Cannondale road bike. Into the final 15 riders we go.
Lovely moment for the Bardet (DFP) family…
Romain Gregoire (GFC) gave his all on the descent and has managed to finished 5th at +44″ down. Solid ride by the young Frenchman.
Bardet (DFP) is just over a minute down at the first split. That really isn’t bad at all from the rider who we have often seen crumble on the TT bike before. Good to see such a combative performance in his final Tour de France stage.
Enric Mas (MOV) sets off. He was excellent yesterday. Hopefully he goes to La Vuelta and can refind his mojo again. He looks so strong but Pogačar (UAD) spoiled the show.
Brilliant ride by Quinten Pacher (GFC). He goes 4th +44″ down on Tejada (AST).
Romain Gregoire (GFC) having to take a foot out as he went very deep into a corner. He fortunately kept it rubber side down.
An outsider for today, Ben Healy (EFE), gets his ride underway. This could be a solid top 10 but then again, we’ve seen a lot of world class riders for this sort of time trial be absolutely nowhere near the best time, still held bu Tejada (AST).
Geraint Thomas (IGD) catches Marc Soler (UAD) out on course with a little nod to the Spanish rider who, of course, has tasted success in this part of the world when he stole the GC at Paris-Nice in 2018 by four seconds ahead of Simon Yates (JAY).
Egan Bernal (IGD) has just set off on his ride. Not the race that was expected of him. He will likely be disappointed, but he may get to focus on La Vuelta soon.
Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) finishes well over four minutes down. He waves to the crowd and finished this year’s Tour de France.
Only 29 rider left to start today’s final stage.
Another rider setting off on his final Tour de France. He will retire at the Criterium du Dauphine next season. But what a race it has been from Romain Bardet (DFP). Winner of stage one and finally achieving his dream of wearing yellow, albeit for just a day.
It isn’t his day today, but this is a wonderful shot of Van Aert (TVL) out on course…
The French time trial champion, Bruno Armirail (DAT), gets going on his ride for Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale.
Mathieu Burgaudeau (TEN) goes 8th at +1’45”.
Wout Van Aert (TVL) is not going for the stage. Is he +3’35” down at the first split.
Tratnik (TVL) finishes +1’17” in provisional 6th for the moment. Just fading slightly at the end. But what a ride it has been by him. He was a late call up after various riders were injured or ill. He rode the Giro and was combative there. He was again in the final week here too.
100 riders have started the final stage. Just 41 to go.
Jan Tratnik (TVL) looks to be doing a negative split as he is up to 5th at the third split out on course.
Geraint Thomas (IGD) sets off in Monaco. He has given his all in this final week to get into breaks to try and take a stage but it didn’t quite happen. He sets off on his ride.
Already settled into the hot seat… But for how long for? No-one looking like they’re going to be too close just yet.
Neilson Powless (EFE) is +52″ down on the best time at the second split as he crests Col d’Eze.
Such an impressive ride by Harold Tejada (AST)…
German national time trial champion, Nils Politt (UAD), finishes his ride. He is way down and has just enjoyed his ride. A brilliant performance by him. He has been incredible for Pogačar (UAD).
New fastest time
Wout Van Aert (TVL) sets off on his ride. How will the former Belgian ITT champion do on this course? Him on top form would be perfect for today, but he is not 100% at this race.
Tim Wellens (UAD) slots into seventh at the finish. He is the first UAE Team Emirates rider to finish. The celebrations can pretty much begin.
Jonathan Castroviejo (IGD) sets off on his ride. The former European and Spanish ITT champion, he hasn’t given many big results recently, but he could be up there today.
Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) sets off. He probably should have won the super combativity prize. He comfortably won the public vote. However, the jury vote meant that Carapaz (EFE) stole is from him.
So far, not many riders have got close to Lenny Martinez’s time. The young Groupama-FDJ has ridden a brilliant stage.
Magnus Cort (UXM) sets off on his effort.
Victor Campenaerts (LTD) finishes +14″ behind Martinez (GFC).
Harald Tejada (AST) goes second at +37″ down at the second split.
Simon Geschke (COF) has finished his final Tour de France.
Third place for Michael Matthews (JAY) +59″ down on Martinez (GFC) at the finish.
Campenaerts (LTD) takes back seven seconds on the descent and is +40″ down on Martinez (GFC) at the third split.
Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) finishes +58″ behind Martinez (GFC).
The weather is very hazy in and around Monaco and Nice. No rain though, thankfully.
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) finishes +2’11” down. He was riding his road bike, much like all of his teammates. He will be full focus on the Olympics.
Bissegger (EFE) finishes almost four minutes down.
Campenaerts (LTD) is now +48″ down on Martinez (GFC) at the second split.
Raul Garcia Pierna (ARK) goes into second at the finish at +1’33” down on Martinez (GFC).
The end of Tour pizza tradition is still alive and well…
Matteo Vercher (TEN) slots into second place for now at +2’22” down on Martinez (GFC).
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) goes into second place at the second time check. He is +1’29” down on Lenny Martinez (GFC).
History maker.
Biniam Girmay wins the green jersey
The brand new Belgian time trial champion, Tim Wellens (UAD), sets off in a superb looking national skinsuit.
Arnaud De Lie (LTD) finishes his first Tour de France. The Belgian road race champion didn’t get his dream of a stage win but he was very close. Definitely many more Tours in the future.
Meanwhile, Victor Campenaerts (LTD) sets off on his ride. Can he get a good result today?
The cameras are, unsurprisingly, focused on Biniam Girmay (IWA). The green jersey. History maker. His dad, obsessed with cycling, sat and watch the Tour when Biniam was a kid. Biniam seeing Daniel Teklehaimanot take the polka dot jersey very early on in the Tour back in 2015 showed him he could do it too. Amazing moment for him.
Winner of stage two this year, Kevin Vauquelin (ARK), sets off.
New fastest time
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) has set off on his ride. Not the race he will have hoped for.
Sebastien Grignard (LTD) has set the fastest time, a 51’44”. However, Lenny Martinez (GFC) has a kilometre left of his race and he will likely take the lead.
An interview with Mark Cavendish and the final question was… “Is this the last race?”. After a very long pause he answered…”Likely so, yeah.”
Stefan Bissegger (EFE) sets off. A very talented time trialist, but the course may not be what he would’ve wanted.
Former Spanish time trial champion, Raul Garcia Pierna (ARK), sets off on his ride. We are now into the final 100 riders to start.
Dillier (ADC) and Durbridge (JAY) are having a bit of a yoyo battle here after the Australian caught the former Swiss champion, Dillier kicked away again. Now, Durbridge is back in front.
Some special messages for Cavendish before today’s stage…
Mark Cavendish finished his final Tour de France
Lenny Martinez (GFC) goes 2’17” faster than Vanhoucke (LTD) at the second split.
Davide Ballerini (AST) finishes with a time of 53’10”.
The rain appears to have completely left the area fortunately for the riders. It was a worry this morning, but the sun is now shining.
Jarrad Drizners (LTD) is about to catch Mark Cavendish (AST).
Lenny Martinez (GFC) has gone fastest at the first split. He had so much hype around him coming into the race but it didn’t happen for the young Frenchman. He is putting in a solid ride so far. He has a gap of +1’40” on Harm Vanhoecke (LTD).
Durbridge (JAY) is on his way to catching Dillier (ADC). The Swiss rider is seemingly one of the only riders using his road bike. The TT bike appears to be the chosen bike for today by most.
The green jersey sets off. Biniam Girmay (IWA). Eritrea’s absolute megastar. A fantastic moment for him, Eritrea and Africa. Such an amazing moment.
Cavendish (AST) looks to be really suffering out on course as he goes over the top od Col d’Eze.
Cees Bol (AST) currently leads by over 30″ at the first split. Ballerini (AST) leads at the second.
The course is currently dry. The cameras are following Cavendish (AST) on this rapid descent for the moment.
Yves Lampaert (SOQ) sets off. Before him was Luke Durbridge (JAY). They are great time trialists. However, not on today’s course.
Cavendish (AST) goes +17″ slower than Ballerini (AST).
Jasper Philipsen (ADC) sets off on his ride. Three stage wins and second place in the points standings. He has been excellent.
Slovenian TT champion, Matej Mohorič (TBV) sets off on his ride. It has been quite a disappointing race by his standards and the team’s. Santiago Buitrago finishing likely just out of the top 10 is some comfort.
According to trackers, Cavendish (AST) is gaining on teammate, Ballerini. So, he will not be taking the last position for the moment.
Norwegian time trial champion, Søren Wærenskjold (UXM), sets off on his ride.
Dylan Groenewegen (JAY) sets off on his ride. Almost become weird to not see him in the Dutch national jersey.
Interestingly, Robbe Ghys (ADC) sets off on his road bike with road helmet. Everyone else we have seen is in full ITT kit.
The course goes the opposite way to the great F1 race as Cavendish (AST) goes up the hill and the Loews bend.
Cavendish (AST) set off with a huge grin on his face.
Mark Cavendish sets off
First rider starts
The stage starts on the road known for being the start finish straight in the famous Monaco GP in Formula One.
The weather in Nice is around 24 degrees centigrade with rain in the area and an 18kph wind coming from the east south east.
Less that ten minutes until the stage gets underway with Davide Ballerini (AST) kicking things off.
Now retired darling of French cycling, Thibaut Pinot, enjoying his time around Nice on a Lime Bike with his friends earlier today…
This is a tough, tight and technical course today with lots of climbing and descending on the menu. An added technicality is that rain is in the locale and has already been raining.
A brilliant race by several other riders involved in the break with Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) animating the first week and a half of the race then with the baton taken on by Richard Carapaz (EFE) who takes a stage win, polka dots and has been given the super combativity prize too.
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) just over 100 days after being in hospital when he broke almost every bone in the upper right hand side of his body as well as a puncture and collapsed lung. He is set to finish a magnificent second place and also takes away a stage win, too. He starts today around three minutes ahead of world time trial champion, Remco Evenepoel (SOQ).
The first one that will also get a lot of focus today is Sir Mark Cavendish (AST) finishing his final Tour de France as…
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