Exhausted Pogacar effectively seals Tour de France title

Jonas Vingegaard says second is a dream come true

Tadej Pogacar all but became champion of the 2021 Tour de France on Saturday as the UAE rider protected his large overall lead in the stage 20 time-trial, ahead of the traditionally ceremonial final run to Paris.

Wout van Aert won the time trial, but defending champion Pogacar's solid ride means he need only cross the Champs-Elysees finish line with the peloton in Sunday's 21st, and final, stage to retain the fabled yellow jersey as winner of the world's greatest bike race. 

He will also win the awards for best rider under-25 and the king of the mountains polka-dot jersey, a triple he also achieved on his debut last year.

The Monaco resident, who earns five million euros (5.9 million dollars) a year, appeared overcome as he climbed on to the podium for his three jerseys, with Briton Mark Cavendish also wearing a huge grin as he picked up his green sprint jersey.

"What a demanding three weeks it has been," the 22-year-old said. 

"It was very hot and I was suffering a bit. But I'm super happy. It still was a super performance," said Pogacar.

Jumbo's Jonas Vingegaard goes into the final day run in second, while Ineos' Richard Carapaz is in third.

"Tadej was so strong in the rainy stages, he won it there in the rain," he said.

A second place for Dutch team Jumbo is a triumph of sorts after their leader Primoz Roglic fell heavily early in the race. 

"I'm very proud of our performance, these three wins and a second place in the general is great," said van Aert, who also won stage 11 which climbed Mont Ventoux twice while American Sepp Kuss took stage 15 in the Pyrenees.

"Tadej deserves his win, but I don't believe he is unbeatable," said Van Aert.

"I'll be challenging for sure. I won't miss out. The Camps-Elysees sprint is a huge thing in the career of any rider," said Van Aert.

The British outfit went into this race with four co-leaders hoping to win an eighth title in ten years, but suffered dreadful luck as three suffered bad falls, leaving only Carapaz to soldier on, although they did win the Giro d'Italia in May with Bernal.

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