TdF, TdF Femmes: Glory for Van Aert, Garcia

 

Stage 21 started as the 'Olympic' version, with three ascents to Montmartre. With relentless rain throughout the entire route in Paris. Despite the chaotic stage, several riders took risks, aiming for the stage win. A reduced group, including Pogacar and Van Aert broke away on one of the climbs up Montmarte. But it was the Belgian that claimed the victory, his tenth stage win at the Tour... and a prestigious of his career. 

The publicity caravan gets a Parisian photo-op

Parisian glory for Van Aert

"I learned a lot. It's my second Grand Tour. Racing three weeks is something special. I have a lot of ups and downs but everyone believed in me. I never dreamt of this when I started cycling five years ago."

-Florian Lipowitz wears the white jersey atop the podium, the last German to wear it since Jan Ullrich.

"I can't believe it. I've had a very complicated year. I was thinking about how many years I've been doing this already and it fit was time to think about retiring. The truth is that I was already thinking about it because this year wasn't going very well for me, but this give me a lot of energy. I have attacked so many times. I always try, and it never worked out for me. I didn’t believe I could win until I was five metres from the finish line, turned around, and saw they weren’t coming when I thought they would pass me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a wonderful feeling.”

 -Mavia Garcia. The 41-year-old Spaniard won stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes attacking at 10km from the line.