PARIS (AP) — Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark won his first Tour de France title on Sunday after coming out on top in a thrilling three-week duel with defending champion Tadej Pogacar.
The 25-year-old Vingegaard became the first Danish rider to win cycling's biggest race since Bjarne Riis in 1996.
Vingegaard, who was runner-up to Pogacar last year, built his success in the mountains. He first took the yellow jersey from Pogacar in the Alps with a memorable ride up the Col du Granon, and followed up this week with an impressive display of strength in the last Pyrenean stage to the resort of Hautacam.
Paris La Defense Arena to Champs-Elysees – France – July 24, 2022 Jumbo – Visma's Jonas Vingegaard celebrates on the podium wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey after winning the Tour de France with second placed, UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar and third placed, Ineos Grenadiers' Geraint Thomas. Photo by Christian Hartmann/Reuters.
Vingegaard also had the upper hand in the race against the clock, gaining more time on Pogacar in Saturday's individual time trial to effectively secure the title.
Pogacar finished runner-up overall and Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner, completed the podium.
Jasper Philipsen won Sunday's last stage — a mainly processional ride around Paris to the Champs-Elysees — in a sprint ahead of Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff.