Tour de France final Stage 21: Live updates, standings

Tour de France final Stage 21: Live updates, standings

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After three weeks of exhilarating competition between the sport’s greatest rivalry, historic moments and over 2,000 miles of racing, the 2024 Tour de France concludes Sunday with the Stage 21 time trial. 

This year’s final stage is historic as it switches Paris’ Champs-Élysées for the Promenade des Anglais. It will be the first time the finish line is not in or near Paris because the city is hosting the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. This year will also be the first time since 1989 that the competition has ended with a time trial.  

The time trial route is a 21-mile ride from Monaco to Nice, France, with rolling hills and an overall elevation gain of 695m − not a negligible figure but significantly less inclined than the recent mountainous stages.

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar, barring any catastrophes such as a crash that leaves him unable to finish the stage, is set to officially claim his yellow jersey after a dominant Tour de France that included five individual stage wins. After his Stage 20 victory, Pogačar, of UAE Team Emirates, stood five minutes and 14 seconds ahead of Denmarks’s Jonas Vingegaard and eight minutes and four seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel

Evenepoel is the reigning World Time Trial Champion and has the best time trial ability on paper, having won the only other time trial stage of the Tour. However, Pogačar is so far ahead that Evenepoel will realistically not be able to catch up to him. 

Should Pogačar win, he will become the first man in the 21st century to win both the Giro D’Italia and Tour de France in the same season. The Slovenian will also win his third Tour de France following his victories in 2020 and 2021 and reclaim the title from rival Vingegaard, the 2022 and 2023 Champion. 

Although Vingegaard will likely not achieve a coveted three-peat, his inspiring performance is an extraordinary feat considering he is coming back after having suffered serious injuries that hospitalized him for 12 days in April. After Stage 20, the Dane stood in the runner-up position, over five minutes behind Pogačar.

Tadej Pogačar is your 2024 Tour de France Champion. Just when you thought Pogačar could not be any more dominant, the Slovenian beat rival Jonas Vingegaard and World Time Trial Champion Remco Evenopoel to win the final stage of the Tour de France and seal his general classification victory. The Slovenian is now the only person in the 21st century to win the Giro D’Italia and Tour de France in the same season.

Pogačar is on the brink of victory having just passed through the third and final checkpoint over a minute faster than rival Vingegaard.

Jorgenson has improved upon Harold Tejada’s time to become the current leader of today’s time trial in 47 minutes and 32 seconds despite a minor crash along the route. The general classification riders are still on the course and are on track to beat Jorgenson’s time. 

Pogačar passed through the second checkpoint 24 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 51 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. The Slovenian is on track to win his sixth stage of the Tour on his way to officially winning his third Tour de France yellow jersey.

Pogačar led the golden trio through the first checkpoint, reaching the mark seven seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 26 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. These margins are currently too slim to make a difference in the general classification standings. 

Carapaz has finished the time trial within the time limit, concluding a successful Tour de France and officially securing the polka-dotted jersey, which recognizes the field’s best climber. He is the first Ecuadorian man to win this jersey.

Yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogaçar of UAE Team Emirates has officially started the final stage of what is likely to be his third Tour de France victory. Pogaçar has had such a dominant Tour that he should win the general classification standings barring any disaster such as a serious fall. 

The 2022 and 2023 Tour de France Champion has started the time trial. The current runner-up in the yellow jersey standings, Vingegaard trails Pogaçar by over five minutes. Although only a catastrophe from Pogaçar could hand Vingegaard the win, the Dane has much to be proud of after returning to competition following serious injuries from a crash in April. 

Belgium’s Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep has started the time trial as the favorite to win today’s stage. The white jersey wearer is the reigning World Time Trial Champion and edged out Tadej Pogačar to win the only other time trial of this Tour de France. Evenepoel is currently in third place in the general classification standings, approximately eight minutes behind lead Tadej Pogačar. Although he most likely will not be able to catch Pogačar or Vingegaard, he should be in a good position to defend his third-place podium position as well as his white jersey, which signifies the best young rider of the Tour.

Jorgenson appeared to slip while zooming around a bend but promptly got up and resumed cycling. He appears to be okay. 

France’s Romain Bardet of Team dsm–firmenich PostNL has officially concluded what is expected to be his last Tour de France. The hometown favorite finished to resounding cheers to cap off one of the most successful French cycling careers of this generation. Although Bardet will finish outside of the top 10 in the general classification standings, Bardet got his storybook ending with a victory during the first stage of the Tour.

Jorgenson, 25, has started the route from Monaco to Nice. He is the highest-ranked American on the general classification leaderboard, standing in eighth place after Stage 20 following a particularly successful second half of the Tour.

Italy’s Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek was the first of the top 10 general classification leaders to start the time trial. The race is heating up as the rest of the top contenders prepare to tackle the course.

Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz of EF Education–EasyPost has started the time trial. If he finishes within the time limit, he will officially become the first Ecuadorian to win the polka-dotted jersey that signifies the Tour’s best climber. He was already named the super-combative rider of the Tour earlier this morning.

Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike has finished his 2024 Tour de France with a time of 53 minutes and 38 seconds in the time trial, good for 74th place so far in today’s standings. The 29-year-old Belgian was the first of the realistic contenders for today’s stage win to set off. Van Aert has won nine individual Tour stages during his career, including two individual time trials, but did not come away with a stage victory this year despite several top-10 finishes.

Powless finished the time trial in 49 minutes and nine seconds, 55 seconds behind current leader Harold Tejada. He now sits in fourth place in today’s stage rankings with the best general classification riders, including American Matteo Jorgenson, still to come.

Harold Tejada of Astana Qazaqstan has improved on Frenchman Lenny Martinez’s time to take a 10-second lead. The Colombian now leads today’s time trial standings with a mark of 48 minutes and 14 seconds. The field’s best general classification riders are still to come.

Cavendish spoke to the media after he finished the time trial. 

“It was just about enjoying it,” Cavendish said of today’s stage. “There’s no pressure for me today, which is strange for a final stage of the Tour. I knew my family were waiting at the finish and I was just absorbing it. I think I got all the emotions out of the way yesterday and I could really just enjoy today.”

Cavendish also confirmed that today’s stage was “likely” his last professional race and reflected on his career. 

“I feel very lucky to have had the career I’ve had, to work with the people I have, to meet the people I have and be able to live the dream,” Cavendish said. “You see the success, you see the photos of wins, videos of wins, but it’s rare people see everything that goes in behind, everything that makes it. It’s taught me a lot about myself, it’s taught me a lot about how to be a father, and that’s the biggest thing I take from the sport.”

The green jersey is awarded to the best overall rider in the points classification. Points are awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints during stages, so the jersey usually designates the best overall sprinter of the Tour. Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay was awarded the green jersey this year.

The Tour de France will not finish in or near Paris for the first time in history because of the ongoing preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Instead, the race will finish in the southeastern French city of Nice. The finish line is located at the Promenade des Anglais − Nice’s version of Paris’ Champs-Elysée, the traditional finish of the tour.

Read more about the historic decision here.

After finishing Stage 21 within the time limit, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Intermarché-Wanty is officially the first Black rider in history to win the points classification. Girmay has had a stellar Tour de France, establishing himself as the best sprinter of the field with his three stage victories and green jersey win, even after suffering injuries that required stitches during Stage 16

Choosing to contest the stage with a road bike instead of a time trial bike, Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen has finished the time trial in 52 minutes and 55 seconds. After a disappointing start to the competition, Philipsen turned his fortunes around, winning three sprint stages, but ultimately lost his battle for the green jersey to Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay.

One of the greatest sprinters in history has officially said farewell to cycling’s most iconic competition. Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish, 39, crossed the Tour de France finish line for the final time in a time of 54 minutes and 38 seconds. The Brit was set to retire at the end of last season but returned for a final Tour de France after he crashed out of last year’s race. Cavendish finally got his fairytale ending to his inspiring career during this year’s Stage 5, where he sprinted to victory for a record-breaking 35th career Tour de France stage win. It’s safe to say Cavendish accomplished what he came for (and more). 

Green jersey wearer Biniam Girmay of Eritrea is now on the course. Girmay has had a breakout performance during this year’s competition, picking up three stage wins with his fierce sprint finishes. Despite a crash during Stage 16 that left Girmay needing stitches, the Eritrean edged out Jasper Philipsen for the green jersey (points classification). All Girmay needs to do is complete the trial within the time limit and he will become the first Black rider in history to win the green jersey accolade. 

After votes from a jury and the public, Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz has been named the super-combative rider of this year’s Tour de France. Carapaz made history as the first Ecuadorian to win an individual Tour stage with his Stage 17 victory and the first to win the mountains classification after yesterday’s final group racing stage. 

Italy’s Davide Ballerini was the first to set off on the course, just ahead of his Astana Qazaqstan teammate Mark Cavendish, who is beginning his final Tour de France stage of his illustrious, record-breaking career.

There will be a staggered start to the individual time trial with 90 seconds between each rider. The cyclists will start in reverse order of the general classification standings, with yellow jersey wearer Pogačar beginning the stage last at 12:45 p.m. ET. Italy’s Davide Ballerini will be the first to start at 8:40 am ET.

Order Start Time (ET) BIB Rider Team
1 8:40:00 192 DAVIDE BALLERINI ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM
2 8:41:30 191 MARK CAVENDISH ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM
3 8:43:00 124 JARRAD DRIZNERS LOTTO DSTNY
4 8:44:30 193 CEES BOL ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM
5 8:46:00 167 LUCA MOZZATO ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
6 8:47:30 166 DANIEL MCLAY ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
7 8:49:00 103 ROBBE GHYS ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
8 8:50:30 23 DYLAN GROENEWEGEN TEAM JAYCO ALULA
9 8:52:00 208 SOREN WAERENSKJOLD UNO-X MOBILITY
10 8:53:30 213 SANDY DUJARDIN TOTALENERGIES
11 8:55:00 205 ALEXANDER KRISTOFF UNO-X MOBILITY
12 8:56:30 125 SÉBASTIEN GRIGNARD LOTTO DSTNY
13 8:58:00 127 HARM VANHOUCKE LOTTO DSTNY
14 8:59:30 66 MATEJ MOHORIC BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
15 9:01:00 106 JASPER PHILIPSEN ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
16 9:02:30 96 LENNY MARTINEZ GROUPAMA-FDJ
17 9:04:00 102 SILVAN DILLIER ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
18 9:05:30 22 LUKE DURBRIDGE TEAM JAYCO ALULA
19 9:07:00 73 YVES LAMPAERT SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
20 9:08:30 122 CEDRIC BEULLENS LOTTO DSTNY
21 9:10:00 183 JOHN DEGENKOLB TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL
22 9:11:30 87 DANNY VAN POPPEL RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
23 9:13:00 121 ARNAUD DE LIE LOTTO DSTNY
24 9:14:30 175 LAURENZ REX INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
25 9:16:00 174 HUGO PAGE INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
26 9:17:30 38 BEN TURNER INEOS GRENADIERS
27 9:19:00 27 LUKA MEZGEC TEAM JAYCO ALULA
28 9:20:30 142 PIET ALLEGAERT COFIDIS
29 9:22:00 172 BINIAM GIRMAY INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
30 9:23:30 132 PASCAL ACKERMANN ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
31 9:25:00 118 MARIJN VAN DEN BERG EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
32 9:26:30 82 NICO DENZ RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
33 9:28:00 62 NIKIAS ARNDT BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
34 9:29:30 148 AXEL ZINGLE COFIDIS
35 9:31:00 108 GIANNI VERMEERSCH ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
36 9:32:30 217 ANTHONY TURGIS TOTALENERGIES
37 9:34:00 218 MATTEO VERCHER TOTALENERGIES
38 9:35:30 207 RASMUS TILLER UNO-X MOBILITY
39 9:37:00 143 BRYAN COQUARD COFIDIS
40 9:38:30 98 CLÉMENT RUSSO GROUPAMA-FDJ
41 9:40:00 163 CLÉMENT CHAMPOUSSIN ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
42 9:41:30 165 RAUL GARCIA PIERNA ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
43 9:43:00 105 AXEL LAURANCE ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
44 9:44:30 113 STEFAN BISSEGGER EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
45 9:46:00 25 CHRISTOPHER JUUL-JENSEN TEAM JAYCO ALULA
46 9:47:30 101 MATHIEU VAN DER POEL ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
47 9:49:00 128 BRENT VAN MOER LOTTO DSTNY
48 9:50:30 144 SIMON GESCHKE COFIDIS
49 9:52:00 214 THOMAS GACHIGNARD TOTALENERGIES
50 9:53:30 176 MIKE TEUNISSEN INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
51 9:55:00 161 KÉVIN VAUQUELIN ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
52 9:56:30 215 FABIEN GRELLIER TOTALENERGIES
53 9:58:00 26 MICHAEL MATTHEWS TEAM JAYCO ALULA
54 9:59:30 44 RYAN GIBBONS LIDL-TREK
55 10:01:00 55 PAUL LAPEIRA DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
56 10:02:30 123 VICTOR CAMPENAERTS LOTTO DSTNY
57 10:04:00 5 CHRISTOPHE LAPORTE TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
58 10:05:30 75 GIANNI MOSCON SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
59 10:07:00 83 MARCO HALLER RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
60 10:08:30 54 DORIAN GODON DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
61 10:10:00 17 TIM WELLENS UAE TEAM EMIRATES
62 10:11:30 56 OLIVER NAESEN DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
63 10:13:00 155 OIER LAZKANO MOVISTAR TEAM
64 10:14:30 117 SEAN QUINN EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
65 10:16:00 57 NANS PETERS DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
66 10:17:30 178 GEORG ZIMMERMANN INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
67 10:19:00 198 HAROLD TEJADA ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM
68 10:20:30 14 NILS POLITT UAE TEAM EMIRATES
69 10:22:00 153 DAVIDE FORMOLO MOVISTAR TEAM
70 10:23:30 6 BART LEMMEN TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
71 10:25:00 173 KOBE GOOSSENS INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
72 10:27:00 131 STEPHEN WILLIAMS ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
73 10:29:00 152 ALEX ARANBURU MOVISTAR TEAM
74 10:31:00 114 RUI COSTA EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
75 10:33:00 137 KRISTS NEILANDS ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
76 10:35:00 72 JAN HIRT SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
77 10:37:00 7 JAN TRATNIK TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
78 10:39:00 212 MATHIEU BURGAUDEAU TOTALENERGIES
79 10:41:00 91 DAVID GAUDU GROUPAMA-FDJ
80 10:43:00 47 JASPER STUYVEN LIDL-TREK
81 10:45:00 86 MATTEO SOBRERO RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
82 10:47:00 187 FRANK VAN DEN BROEK TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL
83 10:49:00 116 NEILSON POWLESS EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
84 10:51:00 92 KÉVIN GENIETS GROUPAMA-FDJ
85 10:53:00 201 MAGNUS CORT UNO-X MOBILITY
86 10:55:00 156 GREGOR MÜHLBERGER MOVISTAR TEAM
87 10:57:00 202 JONAS ABRAHAMSEN UNO-X MOBILITY
88 10:59:00 33 JONATHAN CASTROVIEJO INEOS GRENADIERS
89 11:01:00 35 MICHAL KWIATKOWSKI INEOS GRENADIERS
90 11:03:00 8 WOUT VAN AERT TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
91 11:05:00 157 NELSON OLIVEIRA MOVISTAR TEAM
92 11:07:00 136 HUGO HOULE ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
93 11:09:00 2 TIESJ BENOOT TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
94 11:11:00 58 NICOLAS PRODHOMME DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
95 11:13:00 97 QUENTIN PACHER GROUPAMA-FDJ
96 11:15:00 206 JOHANNES KULSET UNO-X MOBILITY
97 11:17:00 46 TOMS SKUJINS LIDL-TREK
98 11:19:00 67 WOUT POELS BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
99 11:21:00 16 MARC SOLER UAE TEAM EMIRATES
100 11:23:00 37 GERAINT THOMAS INEOS GRENADIERS
101 11:25:00 93 ROMAIN GREGOIRE GROUPAMA-FDJ
102 11:27:00 186 OSCAR ONLEY TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL
103 11:29:00 182 WARREN BARGUIL TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL
104 11:31:00 134 JAKOB FUGLSANG ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
105 11:33:00 85 BOB JUNGELS RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
106 11:35:00 168 CRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
107 11:37:00 204 TOBIAS JOHANNESSEN UNO-X MOBILITY
108 11:39:00 52 BRUNO ARMIRAIL DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
109 11:41:00 203 ODD CHRISTIAN EIKING UNO-X MOBILITY
110 11:43:00 15 PAVEL SIVAKOV UAE TEAM EMIRATES
111 11:45:00 65 JACK HAIG BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
112 11:47:00 181 ROMAIN BARDET TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL
113 11:49:00 216 JORDAN JEGAT TOTALENERGIES
114 11:51:00 32 EGAN BERNAL INEOS GRENADIERS
115 11:53:00 77 ILAN VAN WILDER SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
116 11:55:00 115 BEN HEALY EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
117 11:57:00 95 VALENTIN MADOUAS GROUPAMA-FDJ
118 11:59:00 48 CARLOS VERONA LIDL-TREK
119 12:01:00 158 JAVIER ROMO MOVISTAR TEAM
120 12:03:00 42 JULIEN BERNARD LIDL-TREK
121 12:05:00 4 WILCO KELDERMAN TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
122 12:07:00 151 ENRIC MAS MOVISTAR TEAM
123 12:09:00 171 LOUIS MEINTJES INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY
124 12:11:00 84 JAI HINDLEY RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE
125 12:13:00 211 STEFF CRAS TOTALENERGIES
126 12:15:00 34 LAURENS DE PLUS INEOS GRENADIERS
127 12:17:00 111 RICHARD CARAPAZ EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST
128 12:19:00 141 GUILLAUME MARTIN COFIDIS
129 12:21:00 51 FELIX GALL DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM
130 12:23:00 21 SIMON YATES TEAM JAYCO ALULA
131 12:25:00 64 SANTIAGO BUITRAGO BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
132 12:27:00 41 GIULIO CICCONE LIDL-TREK
133 12:29:00 135 DEREK GEE ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH
134 12:31:00 3 MATTEO JORGENSON TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
135 12:33:00 31 CARLOS RODRIGUEZ INEOS GRENADIERS
136 12:35:00 18 ADAM YATES UAE TEAM EMIRATES
137 12:37:00 74 MIKEL LANDA SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
138 12:39:00 12 JOAO ALMEIDA UAE TEAM EMIRATES
139 12:41:00 71 REMCO EVENEPOEL SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
140 12:43:00 1 JONAS VINGEGAARD TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
141 12:45:00 11 TADEJ POGACAR UAE TEAM EMIRATES
* Start list courtesy of Tour de France

Here’s what the general classification standings look like heading into the final stage.

Position Rider Times Gap
1 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 82h 53′ 32”
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 82h 58′ 46” + 00h 05′ 14”
3 Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) 83h 01′ 36” + 00h 08′ 04”
4 Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) 83h 10′ 17” + 00h 16′ 45”
5 Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) 83h 10′ 57” + 00h 17′ 25”
6 Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 83h 14′ 43” + 00h 21′ 11”
7 Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) 83h 14′ 44” + 00h 21′ 12”
8 Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) 83h 17′ 58” + 00h 24′ 26”
9 Derek Gee (Israel – Premier Tech) 83h 18′ 22” + 00h 24′ 50”
10 Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) 83h 19′ 20” + 00h 25′ 48”

Here’s what the individual jersey leaderboard looks like heading into the final stage. Barring any catastrophe from the leaders, these standings are unlikely to change unless the leaders fail to finish the time trial.

  • Yellow (general classification): Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
  • Green (points classification): Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty)
  • White (young rider classification): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)
  • Polka dot (mountains classification): Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
  • Yellow numbers (teams classification)UAE Team Emirates

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