Quiet man Vingegaard wins maiden Tour de France title

PARIS: Jonas Vingegaard claimed his maiden Tour de France title after Sunday's (Jul 24) 21st and final stage, completing a triumph he effectively sealed in the mountains after a vintage duel with Tadej Pogacar.

The 25-year-old, who five years ago was working as a fish packer in a factory in the morning before training in the afternoon, followed up on his surprise second place last year.

He finished Sunday's ride to the Champs Elysees safely in the bunch as Belgian Jasper Philipsen won the last stage in a sprint ahead of Dutch Dylan Groenewegen and Norway's Alexander Kristoff, who were second and third respectively.

"This is very, very big for me, it's incredible," said Vingegaard, his daughter Frida in his arms as he was cheered on by hundreds of Danish fans on the Champs Elysees.

"One of the biggest experiences of my life to start the Tour in Denmark. It was such a big moment.

"We made a plan and we followed it 100 per cent. Thanks to everyone in the team, behind the team. It's been an incredible journey for us and we finally did it."

Vingegaard laid the foundations of his victory in the 10th stage, when he and his team mate Primoz Roglic attacked Pogacar relentlessly and made him crack in the climb up to the Col du Granon.

Pogacar hit back time and time again but Vingegaard and his Jumbo-Visma team contained the feisty Slovenian, with the new champion sealing the victory when he claimed another win at Hautacam in the final mountain stage.

"It was not what I came for but I'm happy the way this Tour went. I'm very proud to finish second and that I've won three stages," said Pogacar.

Overall, Vingegaard, who rocketed into the limelight last year, finished two minutes and 43 seconds ahead of Pogacar, according to provisional