Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 21 of the 2024 Tour de France!
Around two hours to go until the first riders – Davide Ballerini, Mark Cavendish, Jarrad Drizners – start their efforts today.
Ballerini kicks the time trial off at 14:40 and Tadej Pogačar is last off at 18:45.
Take a look at the full list of Tour de France stage 21 start times here.
Here's the profile of today's stage...
And the map with the route winding west from Monaco to Nice...
Some news away from the Tour this morning is that Peter Sagan is ending his career today.
There's also news from Chloe Dygert as she prepares to take on the Paris Olympic Games.
Richard Carapaz, already a stage winner and the king of the mountains at this Tour, has been awarded the super-combativity prize, too.
A look back at yesterday's stage 20, where Tadej Pogačar triumphed yet again...
And the stage 20 results/GC picture heading into stage 21...
Check out our preview of the time trial course courtesy of Nice resident and former WorldTour pro Joe Dombrowski!
Fans in Nice were treated to what looked like a truly spectacular light show last night with drones being the stars of the show as they made various shapes in the sky, such as this cyclists...
Cube have really stepped up with the custom paint job for history maker, Biniam Girmay (IWA)... What a beautiful bike!
Just 45 minutes until the first rider, Davide Ballerini (AST), sets off.
Today will have a lot of attention around Tadej Pogačar (UAD) and rightly so. However, there was so much more to shout about in this race...
The first one that will also get a lot of focus today is Sir Mark Cavendish (AST) finishing his final Tour de France as the record holder for the most stage wins. 35 and out for the Manx Missile. It will be an emotional moment for him.
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) just over 100 days after being in hospital when he broke almost every bone in the upper right hand side of his body as well as a puncture and collapsed lung. He is set to finish a magnificent second place and also takes away a stage win, too. He starts today around three minutes ahead of world time trial champion, Remco Evenepoel (SOQ).
A brilliant race by several other riders involved in the break with Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) animating the first week and a half of the race then with the baton taken on by Richard Carapaz (EFE) who takes a stage win, polka dots and has been given the super combativity prize too.
This is a tough, tight and technical course today with lots of climbing and descending on the menu. An added technicality is that rain is in the locale and has already been raining.
Now retired darling of French cycling, Thibaut Pinot, enjoying his time around Nice on a Lime Bike with his friends earlier today...
Less that ten minutes until the stage gets underway with Davide Ballerini (AST) kicking things off.
The weather in Nice is around 24 degrees centigrade with rain in the area and an 18kph wind coming from the east south east.
The stage starts on the road known for being the start finish straight in the famous Monaco GP in Formula One.
First rider starts
Mark Cavendish sets off
Cavendish (AST) set off with a huge grin on his face.
The course goes the opposite way to the great F1 race as Cavendish (AST) goes up the hill and the Loews bend.
Interestingly, Robbe Ghys (ADC) sets off on his road bike with road helmet. Everyone else we have seen is in full ITT kit.
Dylan Groenewegen (JAY) sets off on his ride. Almost become weird to not see him in the Dutch national jersey.
Norwegian time trial champion, Søren Wærenskjold (UXM), sets off on his ride.
According to trackers, Cavendish (AST) is gaining on teammate, Ballerini. So, he will not be taking the last position for the moment.
Slovenian TT champion, Matej Mohorič (TBV) sets off on his ride. It has been quite a disappointing race by his standards and the team's. Santiago Buitrago finishing likely just out of the top 10 is some comfort.
Jasper Philipsen (ADC) sets off on his ride. Three stage wins and second place in the points standings. He has been excellent.
Cavendish (AST) goes +17" slower than Ballerini (AST).
Yves Lampaert (SOQ) sets off. Before him was Luke Durbridge (JAY). They are great time trialists. However, not on today's course.
The course is currently dry. The cameras are following Cavendish (AST) on this rapid descent for the moment.
Cees Bol (AST) currently leads by over 30" at the first split. Ballerini (AST) leads at the second.
Cavendish (AST) looks to be really suffering out on course as he goes over the top od Col d'Eze.
The green jersey sets off. Biniam Girmay (IWA). Eritrea's absolute megastar. A fantastic moment for him, Eritrea and Africa. Such an amazing moment.
Durbridge (JAY) is on his way to catching Dillier (ADC). The Swiss rider is seemingly one of the only riders using his road bike. The TT bike appears to be the chosen bike for today by most.
Lenny Martinez (GFC) has gone fastest at the first split. He had so much hype around him coming into the race but it didn't happen for the young Frenchman. He is putting in a solid ride so far. He has a gap of +1'40" on Harm Vanhoecke (LTD).
Jarrad Drizners (LTD) is about to catch Mark Cavendish (AST).
The rain appears to have completely left the area fortunately for the riders. It was a worry this morning, but the sun is now shining.
Davide Ballerini (AST) finishes with a time of 53'10".
Lenny Martinez (GFC) goes 2'17" faster than Vanhoucke (LTD) at the second split.
Mark Cavendish finished his final Tour de France
Some special messages for Cavendish before today's stage...
Dillier (ADC) and Durbridge (JAY) are having a bit of a yoyo battle here after the Australian caught the former Swiss champion, Dillier kicked away again. Now, Durbridge is back in front.
Former Spanish time trial champion, Raul Garcia Pierna (ARK), sets off on his ride. We are now into the final 100 riders to start.
Stefan Bissegger (EFE) sets off. A very talented time trialist, but the course may not be what he would've wanted.
An interview with Mark Cavendish and the final question was... "Is this the last race?". After a very long pause he answered..."Likely so, yeah."
Sebastien Grignard (LTD) has set the fastest time, a 51'44". However, Lenny Martinez (GFC) has a kilometre left of his race and he will likely take the lead.
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) has set off on his ride. Not the race he will have hoped for.
New fastest time
Winner of stage two this year, Kevin Vauquelin (ARK), sets off.
The cameras are, unsurprisingly, focused on Biniam Girmay (IWA). The green jersey. History maker. His dad, obsessed with cycling, sat and watch the Tour when Biniam was a kid. Biniam seeing Daniel Teklehaimanot take the polka dot jersey very early on in the Tour back in 2015 showed him he could do it too. Amazing moment for him.
Meanwhile, Victor Campenaerts (LTD) sets off on his ride. Can he get a good result today?
Arnaud De Lie (LTD) finishes his first Tour de France. The Belgian road race champion didn't get his dream of a stage win but he was very close. Definitely many more Tours in the future.
The brand new Belgian time trial champion, Tim Wellens (UAD), sets off in a superb looking national skinsuit.
Biniam Girmay wins the green jersey
History maker.
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) goes into second place at the second time check. He is +1'29" down on Lenny Martinez (GFC).
Matteo Vercher (TEN) slots into second place for now at +2'22" down on Martinez (GFC).
The end of Tour pizza tradition is still alive and well...
Raul Garcia Pierna (ARK) goes into second at the finish at +1'33" down on Martinez (GFC).
Campenaerts (LTD) is now +48" down on Martinez (GFC) at the second split.
Bissegger (EFE) finishes almost four minutes down.
Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) finishes +2'11" down. He was riding his road bike, much like all of his teammates. He will be full focus on the Olympics.
The weather is very hazy in and around Monaco and Nice. No rain though, thankfully.
Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) finishes +58" behind Martinez (GFC).
Campenaerts (LTD) takes back seven seconds on the descent and is +40" down on Martinez (GFC) at the third split.
Third place for Michael Matthews (JAY) +59" down on Martinez (GFC) at the finish.
Simon Geschke (COF) has finished his final Tour de France.
Harald Tejada (AST) goes second at +37" down at the second split.
Victor Campenaerts (LTD) finishes +14" behind Martinez (GFC).
Magnus Cort (UXM) sets off on his effort.
So far, not many riders have got close to Lenny Martinez's time. The young Groupama-FDJ has ridden a brilliant stage.
Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) sets off. He probably should have won the super combativity prize. He comfortably won the public vote. However, the jury vote meant that Carapaz (EFE) stole is from him.
Jonathan Castroviejo (IGD) sets off on his ride. The former European and Spanish ITT champion, he hasn't given many big results recently, but he could be up there today.
Tim Wellens (UAD) slots into seventh at the finish. He is the first UAE Team Emirates rider to finish. The celebrations can pretty much begin.
Wout Van Aert (TVL) sets off on his ride. How will the former Belgian ITT champion do on this course? Him on top form would be perfect for today, but he is not 100% at this race.
New fastest time
German national time trial champion, Nils Politt (UAD), finishes his ride. He is way down and has just enjoyed his ride. A brilliant performance by him. He has been incredible for Pogačar (UAD).
Such an impressive ride by Harold Tejada (AST)...
Neilson Powless (EFE) is +52" down on the best time at the second split as he crests Col d'Eze.
Already settled into the hot seat... But for how long for? No-one looking like they're going to be too close just yet.
Geraint Thomas (IGD) sets off in Monaco. He has given his all in this final week to get into breaks to try and take a stage but it didn't quite happen. He sets off on his ride.
Jan Tratnik (TVL) looks to be doing a negative split as he is up to 5th at the third split out on course.
100 riders have started the final stage. Just 41 to go.
Tratnik (TVL) finishes +1'17" in provisional 6th for the moment. Just fading slightly at the end. But what a ride it has been by him. He was a late call up after various riders were injured or ill. He rode the Giro and was combative there. He was again in the final week here too.
Wout Van Aert (TVL) is not going for the stage. Is he +3'35" down at the first split.
Mathieu Burgaudeau (TEN) goes 8th at +1'45".
The French time trial champion, Bruno Armirail (DAT), gets going on his ride for Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale.
It isn't his day today, but this is a wonderful shot of Van Aert (TVL) out on course...
Another rider setting off on his final Tour de France. He will retire at the Criterium du Dauphine next season. But what a race it has been from Romain Bardet (DFP). Winner of stage one and finally achieving his dream of wearing yellow, albeit for just a day.
Only 29 rider left to start today's final stage.
Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) finishes well over four minutes down. He waves to the crowd and finished this year's Tour de France.
Egan Bernal (IGD) has just set off on his ride. Not the race that was expected of him. He will likely be disappointed, but he may get to focus on La Vuelta soon.
Geraint Thomas (IGD) catches Marc Soler (UAD) out on course with a little nod to the Spanish rider who, of course, has tasted success in this part of the world when he stole the GC at Paris-Nice in 2018 by four seconds ahead of Simon Yates (JAY).
An outsider for today, Ben Healy (EFE), gets his ride underway. This could be a solid top 10 but then again, we've seen a lot of world class riders for this sort of time trial be absolutely nowhere near the best time, still held bu Tejada (AST).
Romain Gregoire (GFC) having to take a foot out as he went very deep into a corner. He fortunately kept it rubber side down.
Brilliant ride by Quinten Pacher (GFC). He goes 4th +44" down on Tejada (AST).
Enric Mas (MOV) sets off. He was excellent yesterday. Hopefully he goes to La Vuelta and can refind his mojo again. He looks so strong but Pogačar (UAD) spoiled the show.
Bardet (DFP) is just over a minute down at the first split. That really isn't bad at all from the rider who we have often seen crumble on the TT bike before. Good to see such a combative performance in his final Tour de France stage.
Romain Gregoire (GFC) gave his all on the descent and has managed to finished 5th at +44" down. Solid ride by the young Frenchman.
Lovely moment for the Bardet (DFP) family...
Richard Carapaz (EFE) sets off in his splendid polka dot skinsuit and specially made Cannondale road bike. Into the final 15 riders we go.
Warm up time for Tadej Pogačar (UAD) and the other GC riders...
Simon Yates (JAY) starts riding his final stage of this year's Tour de France. He was improving in this final week. I wonder if we shall see him at La Vuelta.
Away from France, Peter Sagan bids a final farewell to racing at the Slovakian mountain bike championships where he finished second. 121 wins on the road. 3 times world road race champion. 7 times green jersey winner. His last road win was the Slovakian road race championships back in 2022.
Into the top 10 in the GC and Giulio Ciccone (LTK) sets off on his ride. He has about half a minute on Buitrago (TBV).
Former Canadian national champion, Derek Gee (IPT), sets off where he starts in 9th place on GC. He wasn't going to be a GC rider at all until he put in a magnificent display at the Dauphine.
Eighth place in GC, Matteo Jorgenson (TVL) has set off on his ride. Winner of this year's Paris-Nice, of course. He will have great memories on the roads around Nice.
Carlos Rodríguez (IGD) sets off as he looks to defend seventh and maybe attack Adam Yates (UAD) who is just one second ahead of him.
Crash!
Adam Yates (UAD) sets off on his ride. Now only five riders are left to ride. Meanwhile, Romaind Bardet (DFP) who is into his final Tour de France kilometre.
Romain Bardet (DFP) finishes with a solid time actually. He won stage one. Got yellow for a day. He finishes the Tour de France for one final time in 19th +2'07" down behind Harold Tejada (AST).
Mikel Landa (SOQ) has now started his effort. He will likely hold onto fifth as he has a good buffer over Yates (UAD), but he will likely lose a lot of time to those above him.
Former Portuguese TT champion, João Almeida (UAD), sets off. He could be right up there for the stage today. Definitely a profile that suits him.
Into the final three we go and it is the world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) who launches off the start ramp looking to double up on the Tour time trials.
Second overall, Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) sets off after what has been an incredible performance and an inspirational showing of determination and perseverance.
The rider set to win the 111th Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar (UAD), starts his ride. He has a gap of over five minutes on Vingegaard (TVL) and he appears to be going for it to begin with.
Will it be between these two this evening?
Richard Carapaz (EFE) is well down at the second time check. Well over three minutes down. Behind him, Guillaume Martin (COF) is much better as he is +1'34" down.
Tadej Pogačar (UAD) signalling that he isn't hearing his radio or he isn't hearing enough from the car. He is clearly keen to go for a sixth stage win.
Simon Yates (JAY) goes second at the second time check at just +28" down on Lenny Martinez (GFC) who still leads at that split. Of course, Tejada (AST) bettered him at the finish.
Bike change
Derek Gee (IPT) goes fastest at the first time check by seven seconds. Jorgenson (TVL) also not far away.
Gee (IPT) goes through the second split just 6" faster than Martinez (GFC).
Bike change
Matteo Jorgenson (TVL) is +11" down on Gee (IPT) at the second split.
Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) goes fastest at the first time check by 36" over Derek Gee (IPT).
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) goes fastest at the first split! He is 19" faster than Remco Evenepoel (SOQ). Wow. This is some ride so far by Vingegaard.
Tadej Pogačar (UAD) crosses the first time check and goes seven seconds faster than Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) and 26" on Remco Evenepoel (SOQ).
Adam Yates (UAD) is +33" down on Gee (IPT) at the second split. Solid riding by both the Yates twins today out on the road.
The yellow jersey is absolutely flying.
Mikel Landa (SOQ) just 19" down on Gee (IPT) at the second time check. That is a superb ride by the Basque climber so far. He is having some race.
Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) goes fastest at the second check by 46" ahead of Derek Gee (IPT). He is absolutely flying, but behind there are two megastars going faster.
Richard Carapaz wins the polka dot jersey
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) goes 27" faster than Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) at the second time check. This is truly exceptional from the Danish rider. What a display by him.
Tadej Pogačar (UAD) comes to the second time check and he obliterates the time of Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) by 25". And 51" on Evenepoel (SOQ). Six stage wins incoming!
Santiago Buitrago (TBV) goes second by just three seconds behind Tejada (AST). Brilliant ride and he will likely jump above Ciccone (LTK) in the GC.
New fastest time
New fastest time
Tadej Pogačar (UAD) lives in this area and it is really showing. He is flying down this descent. He seems to know every inch of the asphalt.
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) very nearly losing it on one of the more relaxed bends. He held it well and he seemed very cool calm and collected.
Landa (SOQ) was fourth at the 3rd time check but it was immediately beaten by Almeida (UAD).
Carlos Rodriguez (IGD) goes 11th for now. +1'44" down.
Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) goes fastest at the third time check. Adam Yates (UAD) moves up above Rodriguez (IGD) as he finishes provisionally 5th +48" down.
Once again, Vingegaard (TVL) betters Evenepoel (SOQ) by 24" at the third split. However, Tadej Pogačar (UAD) has just gone through and is 1'04" faster than Vingegaard.
Mikel Landa (SOQ) finishes in third for the moment in a superb ride by him. That was really quite something from the Basque rider. Exceptional.
João Almeida (UAD) goes second at +11" for now.
Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) will set the fastest time. It will be beaten by Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) and then smashed by Tadej Pogačar (UAD).
New fastest time
New fastest time
Stage 21 winner and new fastest time
Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates wins the Tour de France 2024.
S21 top 10
Final General Classification
Final points standings
Final KoM standings
Best young rider final standings
The podium ceremonies have begun with multiple flybys by the Patrouille de France. Stage winner, Tadej Pogačar (UAD) kicks things off...
A lovely presentation for Mark Cavendish (AST).
Have a read of our post race report in the link below...
Richard Carapaz (EFE) wins the super combativity prize.
UAE Team Emirates win the team standings.
Richard Carapaz (EFE) is the first rider from Ecuador to win the polka dot jersey.
Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) wins the white best young riders jersey in his debut Tour de France.
Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates wins the Tour de France 2024.
Biniam Girmay (IWA) wins the green jersey. It was a historical win for the Black African, who sprinted to three stage victories in the three weeks.
The final podium of this year's Tour de France. If you said this would be how it looked way back in Florence, I don't think many would have been surprised.
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