Tadej PogaÄar may have been gifted his Stage 20 win because his game-plan yesterday was clearly to save energy for todayâs time trial which he dearly wants to win.
However, both Vingegaard and Evenepoel are capable of winning it too, so the battle is on.
Whereas the victor will most probably be one of these three, there are time trial specialists who also are capable of a win, and will also go all out to try win it.
The top ten GC are set for some positional duelling; Adam Yates in 6th place and Carlos RodrĂguez in 7th with only one second separating the pair, and while they slug it out 8th place Matteo Jorgenson will be concerned about the Canadian Derek Gee in 9th place who trails the American by 24 seconds.
Also if Giulio Ciccone wants to retain his 10th GC position he will need to keep ahead of 11th place Santiago Buitrago who trails the Italian by 22 seconds.
There will be a lot of very tired and achy legs peddling over this hill that could make for some unexpected performances.
(The final Stage) Monaco - Nice (33.7km) Individual Time Trial
A later kick off today, riders start time in reverse GC order (slowest first)
The first rider away is Davide Ballerini (Astana) at 14:40 local time (UK time 13:40)
The second rider away is Mark Cavendishat UK time 13:41:30
The first 70 riders start their time trial at one and a half minute intervals.
After the 70th rider is away, the starting intervals change to two minutes apart.
141 competitors today.
Start-time (CET) / Rider
14:40:00 Davide Ballerini
14:41:30 Mark Cavendish
14:43:00 Jarrad Drizners
14:44:30 Cees Bol
14:46:00 Luca Mozzato
ectâŠ
The last rider to start Tadej PogaÄar at 18:45 local time (UK time 17:45)
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Freeview Channel 26 ITV4 coverage begins at 3 pm UK time
Thanks so much Debs for all the effort you have put in with this years TDF and all Grand Tours in the past.
The background on the stages and the route and the pictures and your thoughts on how the stage might go.The classification in all the jersey competitions gives me all the instant information I need.I am not joking but you post more detailed information than BBC Sport TDF.
They should give you a job as their cycling correspondent
A sad day the last day of this years Tour but its been hugely enjoyable and the riders must be totally exhausted
Girmay winning his green jersey was my highlight so pleased for him
I canât agree. Some great days but very bitty overall. I also didnât like todays finish. There is something about the final group sprint that just seems right for the final day. Competitive from the front two for a while but where was anyone else? It seemed to highlight that money teams win. The rest just have a separate set of races for prestige. I think the format or rules needs looking at.
That it didnât finish on the cobbles of Paris is a big plus for me. Every year it is basically the same script being played out with a range of twists being pulled out of the hat until we get the usual result. Just because it is traditional doesnât mean it is good. Personally, I would have liked to see stages 20 and 21 reversed, so the race ended on a mountaintop, but a time trial is better than riding around on cobbles in the centre of Paris.
Fair enough but I think that part of tradition is good in this case. Didnât have to be Paris this year of course, but a race to the line seems a fitting end rather than a race against the clock.
Thank you for keeping us all well informed about every stage of the 2024 TdF, and for all the hard work and time commitment you put in to enhance our enjoyment of this great Tour.
Thank Debs for your Tour de France thread again this year. I had access to delayed full race replays this year so was constantly running several hours behind each day. Replays did not start until after the finish so pretty much running a day behind. Great racing this year and Tadej was just invincible this year much like Jonas was last year. Nice to see multiple stage winners, different winners of the jerseys and of course Mark Cavendish taken a win for the record.
Any thoughts about Geraint Thomas? He was on the borderline through the race and the only times he seemed to be visible was when he was dropping off the back of the yellow jersey group. Ineos were very weak this year and Thomas suggested that their Tour was being badly managed in an interview with the Guardian. He was probably also tired after the Giro. I wonder whether this will be his last Tour, and if it is, itâs a shame that, with all the justifiable celebration of Cavendish, Thomasâs career has been not been celebrated.
I believe G had covid sysmptoms but the protocols meant he could carry on. In his post Tour interview he did mention sickness in the camp. He was on the podium at the Giro - maybe that took too much out of him.
I agree Ineos seem to be losing their way - for instance G and Bernal are neither team leaders nor domestiques really, and Rodrigues is not quite a podium contender yet.
Ineos look to be in need of far more than marginal gains. Jumbo & UAE have clearly stolen a march on them having both the squad and the only team leaders who look capable of winning the Tour. And that for me was the big let down at a tour which provided great racing, great moments, great drama. The yellow jersey race was effectively over before it started given Vingegaardâs lack of preparation. Cavendish (who seemed to have just the one great sprint left in him) & Pidcock offered the only British excitement. Also thought the final TT an anti climax (given the time gaps at the head of the race).
That said I thoroughly enjoyed the race. TV coverage was excellent. @Debs updates on here the same (thank you). And, as ever, Iâm in total awe of the athletes. Pro cyclists are very special. I realise this every time I ride my bike at snails pace.
It was interesting listening to the ex pro riders commentating. 10 years ago they were saying that they might have a few weeks high altitude traing immediately before the Tour. Now they say that the top riders are asked to live in high altitude regions and spend all of their training time there.
That and the use of oxygen uptake âmedicationâ may have a bearing on the tumbling times and recovery periods.
Davide Ballerini
Jarrad Drizners
Cees Bol
at 18:45 local time (UK time 17:45)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
Intermarché-Wanty, 387 points
MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
EF Education-EasyPost, 127 points
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
Soudal Quick-Step, in 83:48:14
TEAMS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
LANTERNE ROUGE
