Jonas Vingegaard crowned Tour de France winner after Champs-Elysees finale

Tadej Pogacar said he could take many positives from his three stage victories and finishing second behind Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard in the 2022 Tour de France.

The UAE Team Emirates star and winner of the Tour in 2020 and 2021 was outshone by Vingegaard, who was outstanding throughout the 21 stages of the gruelling race.

“I can be really happy with this Tour de France,” Pogacar said before the start of the final stage won by Belgian Jasper Philipsen at Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday.

“For sure we wanted to win, but also the second place and three stage wins is something to be proud of. I am looking for new challenges.

“Stage wins are always incredible in the Tour. It's something I cannot describe. For me, that's why it's so beautiful.”

Pogacar was also unlucky as he lost four teammates during the Tour. Vehard Stake Laengen and George Bennett dropped out after testing Covid-19 positive, while Marc Soler was forced to pull out after falling ill and then Rafal Majka due to an injury.

However, nothing should be taken away from Vingegaard and his team Jumbo-Visma’s incredible success.

They scored six stage victories and Vingegaard took both the yellow and green jerseys as the overall winner and the king of the mountains. Van Aert was also awarded the red dossard as the race’s most combative rider.

Pogacar, 23, took the white jersey for the young rider category to add to his three stage victories.