Vingegaard Tour de France Winner, Highlights & Unusual Occurrences
Something Unusual Is Always Afoot
The Bonafide Tour de France Winner
Jonas Vingegaard and his incredible display of skill and determination made him the standout performer of the 2023 Tour de France, earning him back-to-back victories. Despite tough challenges, Vingegaard’s strategic riding and exceptional time trial performance secured his place as the tour de france winner.
Vingegaard, riding for Jumbo-Visma, sealed his second consecutive Tour de France title, triumphing over his main rival, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates. Vingegaard’s exceptional performance earned him a well-deserved lead of 7 minutes and 29 seconds over Pogačar in the overall standings and the coveted yellow jersey.
Final General Tour de France Classification Standings:
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): 82:05:42
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): -7:29
Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates): -10:56
Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla): -12:23
Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers): -13:17
Highlights and Strange Occurrences Per Stage
Stage 1
Adam Yates held on to the Yellow in Stage 1; Yates of UAE Team Emirates stole away, again, sporting the coveted yellow jersey with pride.
The Yates family’s extraordinary achievement, with brothers Adam and Simon battling for stage wins and the maillot jaune, captivated the world and added even more thrills to the race.
Carapaz Abandons: After a Stage 1 crash involving Enric Mas (Movistar) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) forced Mas to abandon the 2023 Tour de France, Carapaz was able to limp to the finish of the opening stage. But unfortunately for the Ecuadorian national champion, he wouldn’t start Sunday’s second stage, suffering a fractured kneecap. It’s never fun to see two of the peloton’s top stars leave the Tour after just one stage.
Stage 2
Victor Lafay (Cofidis) was the 2023 Tour de France winner of Stage 2.
There was chaos at this stage when thumbtacks were thrown in the road, causing many punctured tires. Intermarche-Circus-Wanty’s Lilian Calmejane hit out at the “morons” and posted a video on social media of the five tacks in his front wheel. Others also revealed they had been affected during their transit through the Basque region of northern Spain.
Stage 3
Jasper Philipsen from Alpecin-Deceuninck emerged as the triumphant winner of Stage 3 at the 2023 Tour de France. The young Belgian sensation powered past his rivals in a heart-pounding dash to the finish line.
However, victory didn’t come without some controversy. The race jury closely examined video footage after allegations arose that Philipsen may have drifted into Wout Van Aert’s line during the final meters of the sprint. Fans and riders alike anxiously awaited the verdict, and ultimately, Philipsen’s victory was confirmed.
An Emotional Moment for Arkéa-Samsic: As the lone holdout of the breakaway, Laurent Pichon from Arkéa-Samsic showed incredible determination, riding solo through the streets with unwavering grit. The team’s heartfelt message to Pichon over the radio, expressing pride and admiration, brought tears to many eyes. Pichon’s hard work and courage did not go unnoticed, earning him the Combativity Award—a well-deserved recognition for his exceptional performance.
Stage 4
Jasper Philipsen’s dominance continued on Stage 4, where he secured his second stage win of the Tour de France.
Mass Crash: The race saw a crash-marred final 5 kilometers after a relatively slow day in the peloton. Mark Cavendish’s wish to break the all-time record for Tour de France stage wins took a blow at the end on the Circuit de Nogaro speedway as Astana-Qazaqstan’s Luis Léon Sánchez crashed in the final bend and was rushed to the hospital with a probable collarbone fracture. Fabio Jakobsen from Soudal-QuickStep abandoned the Tour de France before starting stage 12 since he was still trying to recover from the injuries he suffered in that sprint crash.
Stage 5
Jai Hindley seized victory for the stage win and the prestigious yellow leader’s jersey. The top climbers significantly shook up the General Classification in the Pyrenees. Vingegaard was just 34 seconds behind the stage winner.
Stage 6
Tadej Pogačar triumphed for UAE Team Emirates, taking the coveted yellow leader’s jersey during a bustling day in the Pyrenees. Pogačar outperformed Vingegaard on the final climb, narrowing the gap between them and winning the stage.
Stage 7
After a rather calm and flat stage, all the excitement unfolded in the final 3 kilometers. Mark Cavendish came tantalizingly close to breaking the Tour de France stage wins record, but it was the unstoppable Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck who snatched victory with just 500 meters to go.
Stage 8
Mads Pedersen from Lidl-Trek celebrated his first stage win of the 2023 Tour de France on Stage 8, outpacing Jasper Philipsen in a sprint finish.
Stage 9
Canada’s Mike Woods, representing Israel-PremierTech, conquered the Hors Categorie climb, Puy de Dôme, with remarkable composure, catching four riders along the way to secure his first-ever Tour de France stage win.
Clothesline Mishap: During Stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France, Lilian Calmejane from Intermarche–Circus–Wanty encountered an unusual crash. A fan had devised a unique tribute to the legendary French cyclist Raymond Poulidor by stringing up five Poulidor jerseys between two poles, resembling a washing line. However, disaster struck when the makeshift display unexpectedly snapped, sending the jerseys to become entangled in Calmejane’s handlebars. Calmejane, irritated by the mishap, threw one of the jerseys back at the fan and shot him a stern glare.
The jerseys were meant as a tribute to the iconic Raymond Poulidor, fondly known as cycling’s ‘Eternal Second,’ who sadly passed away in 2019 at the age of 83. Poulidor achieved an impressive eight podium finishes in the Tour de France but was often denied the coveted yellow jersey due to stiff competition from cycling legends Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx.
Interestingly enough, Mathieu van der Poel, who is currently competing in the Tour for Alpecin–Deceuninck, is Poulidor’s grandson, continuing the family’s legacy in the sport.
Eerie Moments: One of the eeriest moments of the Tour occurred during the Puy de Dôme stage when fans were prohibited from lining the upper slopes because of previous reckless fan encounters. This unique arrangement created an eerie silence as the riders tackled the ascent.
Stage 10
Pello Bilbao from Bahrain Victorious showcased his sprinting prowess, sealing a spectacular victory as the Tour de France winner of Stage 10.
Stage 11
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck stormed to victory in Stage 11 of the 2023 Tour de France, asserting his dominance in the sprints. The wet and technical finish in Moulins on Tuesday did not faze Philipsen, as he sprinted past his closest rival, Dylan Groenewegen, in the final 100 meters to claim his fourth stage win in this Tour. Philipsen’s performance on Stage 11 has further solidified his status as one of the Tour’s strongest sprinters.
Stage 12
Heartbreak: In a heart-wrenching twist, Matteo Jorgensen from Movistar endured heartbreak during the first 12 stages. A consistent presence in the breakaway, Jorgensen’s unwavering efforts were just shy of clinching a stage win, most notably on Stage 9 when victory seemed within reach. On Stage 12, Jorgensen was apparently the strongest rider in the group that was chasing Izagirre; however, he basically left it too late.
Stage 13
Stage Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, representing INEOS Grenadiers, delivered a masterful performance on Stage 13, dominating the “Beyond Category” Grand Colombier climb after a day-long presence in the breakaway.
Puzzling Intermediate Sprint: The Tour organizers left fans puzzled as they placed an intermediate sprint in Hauteville-Lompnes, midway up a long, gradual climb. The unconventional decision sparked curiosity, but it seemed to be driven by business considerations and limited options for potential sprint locations.
Stage 14
Carlos Rodriguez from INEOS Grenadiers wrote his name in history books on Stage 14 after an enthralling day in the GC. Despite being dropped on the final climb, Rodriguez showcased his grit on the ensuing descent, securing a well-deserved stage win.
Another Mass Crash: At this stage, a mass crash involving some 50 riders appeared to be triggered by a cyclist slipping on a sweeping, wet corner. The stage was neutralized for 29 minutes and then continued.
Stage 15
The Stage 15 victory belonged to Wout Poels of Bahrain Victorious, who outpaced a talented group from the breakaway to claim his first-ever Tour de France stage win.
Yet Another Mass Crash: An accident occurred when a roadside spectator touched American rider Sepp Kuss while trying to take a selfie and sent him sprawling to the tarmac. Dylan van Baarle and Nathan van Hooydonck were also among those riders who hit the ground, which warranted a call out from Vingegaard to roadside spectators to behave. His team is seriously considering taking legal action after this fan caused the crash.
Stage 16
Vingegaard dominated Stage 16 in a thrilling victory of the 2023 Tour de France’s individual time trial. Leaving spectators in awe, he conquered the challenging 22.4km route, securing the stage win with a remarkable 1 minute and 38 seconds lead over his fierce competitor, Tadej Pogačar.
Stage 17
This stage was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, featuring a triumphant Felix Gall, a resilient Jonas Vingegaard, and a heartbroken Tadej Pogačar. The Tour de France never fails to deliver breathtaking moments, and the battle for the yellow jersey is the gift that keeps on giving.
Stage 18
Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) claimed victory in dramatic fashion, fending off the peloton and sprinting to the finish line alongside Pascal Eenkhoorn and Jonas Abrahamsen.
By the way, it had been rough in the 2023 Tour de France for the Soudal Quick-Step team. Their top sprinter, Fabio Jakobsen, withdrew from the event after Stage 12 due to injuries from an earlier mass crash.
Stage 19
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) took a thrilling sprint finish in Stage 19.
Stage 20
Tadej Pogačar secured a stage win with his sprinting prowess at the Col du Platzerwasel. Vingegaard’s impressive third-place finish enabled him to maintain his yellow jersey heading into the ceremonial final stage.
Stage 21
In a sensational sprint finish on the iconic Champs-Élysées, Jordi Meeus of Bora-Hansgrohe emerged as the surprise winner of Stage 21 in the 2023 Tour de France. Meeus outpaced the Tour’s top sprinters – Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen, and Mads Pedersen – to claim victory in the final stage.
Fun Fact
As the Tour de France Femmes took place simultaneously, fans also witnessed the exciting competition among top women cyclists, with Annemiek Van Vleuten and Demi Vollering emerging as top contenders.
With the 2023 Tour de France and its thrilling conclusion, cycling enthusiasts around the world eagerly await next year’s edition to witness more exhilarating races and new champions.
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