Cycling grand tours

Wout van Aert denied Tadej Pogacar a prestigious win on the final stage of this year’s Tour de France as the Slovenian secured his fourth Tour title. Reigning champion Pogacar had a lead of more than four minutes heading into the final day, when only the stage win would be contested in Paris. With rain falling in the French capital, the 26-year-old established himself in a six-man breakaway during a thrilling finale on the same circuit used for last year’s Olympic race.

Kaden Groves completed his trilogy of Grand Tour victories with a memorable solo win from a decimated breakaway on Stage 20 at the Tour de France. The Australian survived the wet roads and avoided a spate of high-speed crashes as he added to his wins at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. Tadej Pogacar avoided a late spill in the yellow jersey to move within one stage of a fourth Tour.

Only an unprecedented calamity can deny Tadej Pogacar a fourth Tour de France title after he cruised through the final test in the mountains, with the two bonus seconds he lost to Jonas Vingegaard in the finale immaterial. Thymen Arensman claimed a second stage win for Ineos Grenadiers, although it was only possible after a lack of courage behind. The high mountains are done and dusted.