Danish Racer Jonas Vingegaard Wins Tour De France Again

Jonas Vingegaard, a Danish cyclist, lifted his bicycle in a ceremonial in Paris, France on July 23 after winning the Tour de France 2023. (Between/AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat)

JAKARTA - Jonas Vingegaard won his second consecutive Tour de France title on Sunday, after Jordi Meeus won last stage at Champs-Elysees in Paris.

The Jumbo-Visma team racer crossed the finish line after racing for 21 days, with a seven-minute 29-second lead over the 2020 and 2021 edition champions Tadej Pogacar.

Pogacar's team-mate in the UAE, Adamcates, became the third-placed fastest rider in the last stage to complete the podium fillers.

The advantage of Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard over his closest competitor was the biggest since 2014, when Vincenzo Nibali had a seven-minute 39-second gap over his opponent to win a yellow shirt.

Vingegaard got on the podium surrounded by his family members, before playing the Danish national anthem.

Despite losing, Pogacar looked not too disappointed, and gave positive statements about this year's race.

"Considering everything, this is a great race. I have to be happy with that," Pogacar said as quoted by AFP and reported by Antara.

"We have two people on the podium, and I won two stage and white shirt. I love cycling," he continued before meeting his family at the bottom of the podium.

Etape was finally won by the Bora team rider, Meeus, who was very happy with this achievement.

"It's really a beautiful ending, this is what the Tour level looks like," said Meuus.

The world's biggest cycling event presents a fierce drama with spectacular backgrounds, when Vingegaard and Pogacar were still adrift for a few seconds, until Vingegaard then increased the lead thanks to a sensational appearance in the individual time trial last Tuesday (18/7).

A day later, on the 28-kilometer climb to the ski resort in Courevel, Pogacar complained, "I can't stand it anymore. I just walked back," before Vingegaard finished the stage with an incredible final climb.

Tour de France this year is touted as a stage show between defending champion Vingegaard and Pogacar, who have won twice.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme uses the term boxing to describe the struggles the riders go through.

"They had 15 rounds and then took a punch in the stomach, knelt down, and were hit by a knockout," he said on Sunday.

Pogacar started the race quite well. He took advantage of several advantages in the Basque hills until Vingegaard launched an attack on the first mountain stage in Pyrenees to seize the yellow shirt.

As Pogacar stuck to Vingegaard by a few seconds, the reigning champion never really let go of his opponent on his way to Paris.

Vingegaard is the only rider capable of challenging Pogacar on high mountains.

In 2022, he will rise one level higher and win titles at highs. This was again proven in 2023, but winning a tour with such dominance made Vingegaard even more excited to win his third title.

"Tour de France is the greatest race in the world. There is something special here, and I can tell you, I will return next year to try and win it again," said Vingegaard confidently.