Champion Pogacar hails 'incredible Tour de France adventure'

Wout van Aert of Belgium celebrates his third win on the Tour

Tadej Pogacar won a second successive Tour de France on Sunday, hailing his victory as "an incredible adventure" as Wout van Aert claimed the final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris after three weeks of thrilling action.

Pogacar stole in at the 11th hour to win the 2020 edition, but this year he stamped his authority in the first week before he pulled on the yellow jersey beneath the Arc de Triomphe as the undisputed champion, aged just 22.

"It was one thing last year, the first win, I didn't cry this year," he said glowing in his big moment and thanking everyone with his parents and siblings all present.

"It's been an incredible adventure being part of this cycling family," he said dedicating his latest triumph to "all cycling fans everywhere." 

"I've won a giant Tour de France stage," Van Aert said. "But I'm just a little cyclist compared with Tadej."

- Cavendish happy -

Jasper Philipsen was second on the day as Deceuninck rider Cavendish fell just short, punching his handlebars in frustration.

"It was just too hard," Cavendish said of the final sprint. "But it's just wonderful to be here," he said on the podium after picking up his award.

The Bahrain Victorious outfit won the team award to end the Tour with a smile after a police swoop on their hotel and team bus earlier this week.

Pogacar "rode between the raindrops" after surviving a litany of crashes as the Tour embarked from the nation's western tip at the Atlantic port of Brest.

The UAE Team Emirates leader then produced a pair of joyful mountain victories in the Pyrenees to rubber stamp his status as the best rider on the Tour this year.

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