Quotes
Stage 21
11| Tadej POGAČAR
Tadej Pogacar: "This isan era of cycling we can all cherish"
"I can be satisfied considering everything that happened in this Tour, despite of course the fast that my desire was to win. It has been an amazing Tour for me and for my team. I'm super happy to be in Paris on the podium, and in white one more time. So yeah: thank you all, and goodbye to my beloved white jersey… I’m not young anymore! I knew sooner or later I would have days like this, moments like this. It is not the last time I will feel I am past my limit. I can learn something from this. For the future, I know better what I can expect from myself. We are...
Stage 21
81| Giulio CICCONE
Giulio Ciccone: "The polka dot jersey was my childhood dream"
"This is one of the best days of my life. It’s really good for me and for my team that I got this KOM jersey. It’s one to enjoy. It inspires me the greatest emotions. I feel really proud of myself. This jersey has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid and I first started riding a bike."
Stage 21
106| Jasper PHILIPSEN
Jasper Philipsen: "This Tour will remain in my memory"
"Standing on the podium in the green jersey is such an amazing feeling. I’m proud of how well we worked together towards it. I wanted to win today, but also to enjoy what I have achieved so far. Besides, I’m happy that it was Jordi [Meeus] who took the victory. This has been my best Tour de France, and these will for sure be some of the best memoires of my sporting career. My next aim is the world championships road race."
Stage 21
1| Jonas VINGEGAARD
Jonas Vingegaard: "I've enjoyed every day"
"It is a feeling of being proud and happy. We win the race for the 2nd time now. It’s really amazing. With all the spectators, all the Danish people here, it has been really amazing. Thanks not only to my team and my family – but to all Denmark. They have supported me greatly. It’s been a long journey, yet it went by so fast. Day after day, it was a super hard race with a super nice fight between me and Tadej. I’ve enjoyed every day. I hope to come back next year and see if I can take a 3rd win – or at least try! That’s my plan."
...Stage 21
76| Jordi MEEUS
Jordi Meeus: "The greatest day in my sporting career"
"This is definitely the greatest day in my sporting career. These days I saw my results could improve… I'm happy to pull it off. I felt quite good all day. The beginning was easy and, from the moment we went full gas, my legs felt good. Marco Haller did great job at positioning me. I sat on Pedersen’s wheel and then came off his slipstream to pip everyone on the line. It’s unbelievable I got to win here, in my first Tour de France."
Stage 20
37| Thibaut PINOT
Thibaut Pinot: "It's more than a victory"
"It was extraordinary. I've experienced incredible feelings today. I've done this race for winning it and I think it was the right tactic but I lacked a bit of legs to accompany the group who contested the stage victory. Up to Petit Ballon, it was pure madness. I had the best fans in the world. This moment will stay in my memory for ever. It goes beyond the result. It's more than a victory. I'm also happy to finish with such a good level and show that I was able to play a role in my last Tour de France."
Stage 20
106| Jasper PHILIPSEN
Jasper Philipsen: "I know what to do tomorrow"
"It has been a relief to finish this stage. I have suffered so much in the mountains over these three weeks, and also today. But today’s stage has been special, as there were many friends of mine out there to cheer for me from the roadside. Getting the green jersey means a lot for me, because it is a childhood dream of mine. Wearing it in the podium of the Tour de France will be such an emotional moment. I hope to play for the win in the Champs-Elysées. It’s the most beautiful street in Paris and to finish off the greatest bike race in the world there...
Stage 20
1| Jonas VINGEGAARD
Jonas Vingegaard: "I have no bad memories from this Tour"
"To get a second Tour de France feels as amazing as the first one. We still have to be careful about the Paris stage, because anything can happen… but yeah, it feels amazing. I almost can’t believe it. It has definitely been a crazy battle all these three weeks. I’m sure it has been great to watch for the fans. I really appreciate how beautiful my battle with Tadej has been. He is such a great guy and has given me such an amazing fight since Bilbao. I am very thankful to my team, because I could have never made it without them. We all dit our job so well...
Stage 20
81| Giulio CICCONE
Giulio Ciccone: "It was a big fight"
"We had one plan and we did a terrific job to execute it. I need to thank all my team-mates. I think they did something crazy right from the start. When riders like Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose decide to do something, you have to stay in the wheels. We did everything perfect to hold on to this jersey, in the hills and in the valley. It was a big fight. We got what we wanted. I'm really happy."
Stage 20
11| Tadej POGAČAR
Tadej Pogacar: "It was great to feel good after days of suffering"
"Today I finally felt like myself again. It was in really good from start to finish. It was great to feel good again after many days suffering and to pull off a stage win. I could continue for one more week [giggles], but nah, let’s go home. I was waiting for Adam [Yates] to come back because I know him and he could lead me out super well. Thanks to him, I was less nervous coming into the final and winning was a bit easier. I was super happy that the team did such a great job once again. I think the atmosphere in the bus every day will be my best memory of this Tour...