Tour de France on Sunday, ending the reign of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar after a gruelling three weeks and 3,350km of relentless struggle.
The 25-year-old former fish-market worker claimed his first Tour de France title, a year after his break-out performance when he came second to Pogacar. "This victory is huge for me, it's incredible," said Vingegaard as he stood on top of the podium on a sun-kissed Champs Elysees. "There are so many people I want to thank but I don't know where to start," he added, reserving particular praise for organisers who started the race in his native Denmark.
Vingegaard also hailed teammate Wout van Aert as "phenomenal" and "the best rider in the world", as he was flanked by second-placed Pogacar and 2018 champion Geraint Thomas, who was third. "We had a plan and we followed it to the letter, all my teammates outdid themselves," added the champion.
Packed ranks of Danes in front of the podium began to chant his name as he thanked "the two girls in my life", a reference to his partner and daughter. "Without them, I couldn't have done this." Runner-up Pogacar won three stages along the way and also took the white jersey for best under-25 rider for a third straight year.