Cycling Race Win: Pogacar Secures Victory Following Montmartre Sprint Competition
Montmartre Debut Adds Excitement to Tour de France 2022 Finale
The Tour de France 2022 final stage was marked by a new addition - three circuits of the hill of Montmartre, making its debut in the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées. This change was introduced to inject more excitement and unpredictability into the race, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Champs-Élysées as the Tour's final stage and building on the legacy of the 2024 Paris Olympics [1][2][3].
The final laps included a challenging cobbled climb up Rue Lepic, known as the Côte de la Butte Montmartre, repeated three times. The steep, narrow, and cobbled nature of the climb significantly altered the dynamics of the finale, favoring puncheurs and classics specialists who could launch attacks [1][3][4].
Cyclist Reactions
Some riders initially expressed concerns about safety on the wet cobbles and tricky descents, given it was a new and challenging addition to the final stage [2]. Remco Evenepoel, the Olympic champion, was publicly against the addition, stating he preferred the traditional setup without Montmartre [3]. However, top riders like Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar embraced the challenge, racing aggressively on the circuit. Van Aert notably won the stage after a decisive attack on the final Montmartre climb [2][4][5]. Others, including Jonas Vingegaard, Geraint Thomas, and Primož Roglič, took a more relaxed approach, enjoying the crowd atmosphere and the celebratory nature of the race's finale [2].
Spectator Reactions
The change was very popular with fans, creating a lively, festive atmosphere in Montmartre with large crowds lining the streets and enhancing the spectacle of the Tour's closing day [2][3]. Spectators enjoyed the increased drama and unpredictability compared to the previously formulaic sprint finish, adding a "new lease of life" to the final stage [2].
In summary, the Montmartre finish addition modernized and revitalized the Tour’s finale, generating mixed reactions among cyclists—some critical, some enthusiastic—but overwhelmingly positive responses from spectators due to the excitement and atmosphere it created [1][2][3].
Tour de France 2022 Results
Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia finished the Tour de France 2022 with a lead of four minutes and 24 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark [6]. Pogacar expressed a desire for peace and good weather and looked forward to enjoying quiet days at home after the Tour de France [7]. Marcel Kittel, a former German sprinter, lamented the move away from the traditional Champs-Élysées climax as a sprinter [8]. Florian Lipowitz, a German cyclist, finished third in the Tour de France 2022, 11 minutes behind Pogacar [9]. Wout van Aert, a Belgian cyclist, won the final stage of the Tour de France 2022 [10].
[1] La Vie Claire [2] Cycling Weekly [3] BBC Sport [4] VeloNews [5] CyclingTips [6] France 24 [7] Cycling News [8] Deutsche Welle [9] AFP [10] Reuters
Note: The information provided is based on the bullet points given and may not reflect the exact wording or structure of the sources cited.
- In contrast to the concerns raised by some riders, sports enthusiasts applauded the Montmartre finish, as it added a festive, lively atmosphere to the Tour de France 2022 finale, offering a "new lease of life" to the traditional race.
- Amidst the excitement generated by the new Montmartre finish, politics took a backseat, with discussions focusing more on the thrill and unpredictability of the Tour de France 2022 rather than the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
