23 July 2023 , 18:08
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Jonas Vingegaard has claimed victory at the Tour de France, fighting off the challenge of Tadej Pogacar to end up atop the podium.
The final stage was won by Jordi Meeus in a dramatic finish. However, there was no danger of Vingegaard losing the yellow jersey.
The Dane, who was also victorious in 2022, went into the final race with a seven minute and 29 second advantage over Pogacar. That's how it stayed, though there was still drama at the front as Meeus pipped Jasper Phillipsen to the stage victory.
"It's been a super hard race and a super good fight between me and Tadej," Vingegaard said, per The BBC. "I really enjoyed it."
The winner is expected to return in 2024 as he seeks a third victory on the spin. Pogacar, the 2021 winner, was forced to settle for second again after finishing as runner-up behind the same man last year.
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The race ended on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, with Phillipsen chasing a fifth stage victory this year after pipping British star Mark Cavendish earlier in the tour. Cavendish would later be forced out following a crash, ending his hopes of breaking the record for all-time stage wins.
Jonas Vingegaard has won the Tour de France again (AFP via Getty Images)Instead, though, it was Meeus who came out on top in Paris. The Spaniard, riding in his first tour, admitted "everything went perfect" after the dream finish.
"I am super-happy," Meeus added. From the moment we went full gas, my legs felt really good."
British star Yates hung on to his podium position in the overall standings, despite a challenge from his brother Simon. The pair were separated by less than two minutes in third and fourth.
Despite falling short in the final stage, Phillipsen still came away with the green jersey. Pogacar, 24, won the best young rider award, while King of the Mountains was claimed by Italy's Giulio Ciccone.
While Pogacar fell short in his quest for the yellow jersey, he had restored some pride with a victory in the penultimate stage. "Today I finally feel like myself again," he said after that win, even though it ultimately wasn't enough.
"It was just really good from start to finish, to feel good again after many days suffering and to pull it off in the finish, I'm just super, super happy."