Jonas Vingegaard is the second Danish winner in the history of the Tour de France, 26 years after Bjarn Riis. Last stage today, 115 kilometers between La Défense Arena in the Hauts-de-Seine and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The Grande Boucle therefore ends after three weeks of racing. Tear in the eye, this is Alexis Bédu’s last postcard.
From the whirlwind start in Denmark, from the dusty cobblestones of the north, to the high altitudes of the Alps and the Pyrenees, the Tour will have offered its share of encounters. Like this fine team from Belgium who, each time the Tour passes through the Vosges, goes to the Planche des Belles Filles: “ We have our little habits. We party at the campsite on Thursday evening, and then on Friday, we go up quietly on the Planche. A little beer, and let’s go for the day “, laughs one of them.
The 2022 Tour has also had its share of emotions. On Wednesday July 13, the mythical stage of the Col du Granon has already entered history: Vingegaard, the Viking of the Jumbo, knocks down the Slovenian Pogacar, double title holder. Enough to capsize the Danish supporters, who are very numerous on the roads, with happiness.
The Tour is also its advertising caravan and its jugglers in the departure village who offer caps, key rings and other shopping bags. But the Tour is also sometimes a hassle of transport for the spectators or the inhabitants of the valleys. “ I like bikes, I like to pedal sometimes and bask in the pill, says this young woman in Briançon, but there, we would like to go home and because of the cyclists, we can’t. »
The mountains are far away. It’s time to rediscover Paris and the most beautiful of its avenues. Florian Sénéchal will tumble onto the Champs-Élysées with the French champion’s jersey: ” It’s going to be cool. The best way to visit Paris is by being a runner in the Tour de France, we have the Champs-Élysées all to ourselves. »
After 3,350 kilometers of cycling, the champagne is likely to flow afloat.
► Also to be found: the previous postcards of the Tour de France