A Spectacular Finale: Jordi Meeus Sprints to Victory on Champs-Élysées

The grand finale of the Tour de France unfolded on the iconic Champs-Élysées, where riders embarked on a 115.1-kilometer stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to celebrate the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. The teams took turns leading the bunch for a memorable two-wheeled photo shoot, creating a beautiful spectacle for the fans.

Victor Campenaerts, adorned in the super-combativity trophy, playfully launched off the front of the peloton before rejoining his teammates. Giulio Ciccone, donning the polka-dot jersey, led his Lidl-Trek teammates for a slow lead-out to claim the lone King of the Mountains point of the day. The peloton passed the Château de Versailles before heading to Paris via Meudon and Issy-les-Moulineaux, where the final climb of the race, the Côte du Pavé des Gardes, awaited the riders.

The stage came alive in Paris, with eight laps of the Champs-Élysées circuit remaining to decide the stage winner. Jumbo-Visma controlled the pace as the peloton entered the final circuits, setting the stage for thrilling battles on the iconic streets.

In the first two laps of the Champs-Élysées circuit, several riders attempted to break free, including Pascal Eenkhoorn and Frederik Frison. Tadej Pogačar, the yellow jersey wearer, launched multiple attacks, trying to shake up the race. Simon Clarke and Nelson Oliveira joined forces to form a breakaway trio, only to be caught later by the chasing peloton.

The final lap saw the peloton unleash a series of short-lived attacks as speeds reached a blistering 64 km per hour. With three kilometers to go, Jumbo-Visma sat up to celebrate their overall victory, leaving the sprinters’ teams to battle for the stage win.

The Champs-Élysées witnessed a thrilling sprint showdown, with a mixture of teams vying for control. Mathieu van der Poel led out his teammate Jasper Philipsen, who faced stiff competition from Dylan Groenewegen. In a nail-biting finish, Jordi Meeus emerged victorious, edging out Philipsen to take his first stage win of the Tour de France.

Tadej Pogačar continued his dominance by securing the white jersey for the third consecutive year, solidifying his position as the best young rider in the race. Carlos Rodriguez of Ineos Grenadiers finished as the runner-up in the young rider’s classification.

Giulio Ciccone proudly claimed the polka-dot jersey, finishing ahead of Felix Gall in the climber’s award. Philipsen secured the green jersey before the final stage, outperforming Mads Pedersen in the points standings.

Jumbo-Visma celebrated victory in the team competition, showcasing their strength and teamwork throughout the race. Meanwhile, Victor Campenaerts earned the super-combativity award for his relentless aggression over the three weeks of racing.

The Tour de France concluded with an unforgettable stage on the Champs-Élysées, where Jordi Meeus emerged as the stage winner in a thrilling sprint finish. Tadej Pogačar’s dominance in the young rider classification continued, while Giulio Ciccone and Jasper Philipsen secured the polka-dot and green jerseys, respectively. Jumbo-Visma’s exceptional teamwork earned them the team victory, capping off a remarkable edition of the prestigious race. As the curtain falls on the 2023 Tour de France, the cycling world looks forward to the next edition of this epic sporting spectacle.