Paris stage win for Van der Poel: 'It wasn't from my toes'

Mathieu van der Poel secured a dramatic victory on the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris, crossing the finish line on the Champs-Élysées just ahead of the charging sprinters. The Dutch rider, visibly spent from his efforts, could barely celebrate immediately after the stage. He and Tadej Pogacar, the race leader, initiated a daring breakaway more than ten kilometers from the finish line on a challenging, steep climb. Van der Poel managed to edge his bike forward at the line, narrowly fending off the fast-closing sprinters. After the race, a depleted Van der Poel lay against the barriers, surrounded by jubilant teammates. He later described the stage win as a long-held dream, stating, "There are a number of races I would still like to win in my career, and the final stage of the Tour was one of them." He spoke of the immense fatigue, noting that while a Dutch saying suggests effort must come "from your toes," this victory felt like it originated from an unknown source. The inclusion of a steep climb in Montmartre, inspired by the Paris Olympics road race, transformed the traditional sprinters' finale into a mini-classic. This allowed riders like Van der Poel and Pogacar to contest the win, rather than just the pure sprinters. Van der Poel's win marks a significant achievement for a Dutch rider on the Champs-Élysées, a feat not seen since Dylan Groenewegen's victory in 2017, which was decided by a mass sprint.

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There are a number of races I would still like to win in my career, and the final stage of the Tour was one of them.