There were plenty of opportunities for the Sprinter in the first ten stages to celebrate a stage win, but there is still a fundamental change compared to previous years. On the 21st stage. So far, the teams and drivers have driven to Paris on the last stage of the tour, partly with a sparkling wine. On the Champs-élysées there was a sprint for the prestigious victory. Only last year was changed due to the Olympic Games in Paris, so the last stage led the professionals in the individual time trial to Nice. This year, the tour managers have considered a change.
At the end of the 21st stage, the drivers have to drive up the mountain Montmartre three times before going to the Champs-élysées. In other words, the stage could end in a sprint, but the outliers could also have a chance for the day’s victory. The increase in Montmartre is not an easy one, as has already been shown at the Olympic Games. For a sprint finish, the sprinters would have to quickly get up the mountain-for which they are not known.
Vingegaard therefore already said: “It looked nice at the Olympics. But there were 50 drivers together, now there are 150 in the position struggle. It’s not a good idea.”
Even Evenepoel also agreed that the change designed the stage “unnecessarily complicated”. Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, only said about criticism at the AFP news agency: “I have no doubt that this will be a spectacular finale.” However, he stated that he could deal well with criticism.
Prudhomme emphasized: “Just as I understand that drivers were not enthusiastic that we integrated cobblestone or gravel passages into the race.” However, his final answer is: “This is now part of the sport.”
However, Rick Zabel sees it a little differently. He explains: “During the tour, the drivers have 20 stages to make out the overall ranking among themselves. Traditionally, the last stage was always the journey via the Champs élysées. I think that suddenly, because it is also part of the story. Especially for the sprinters, because that was always the big sprinter stage, and now it is taken a bit to you.”
So far, Jonathan Milan has been wearing the green jersey for the best sprinter, followed by Tadej Pogačar. Milan, who drives for “Lidl-Trek”, won the 17th stage, which led over the Col du Pertuis. The sprinter was left behind on the first mountain of the stage, but came back. So he said afterwards: “I am really happy and actually speechless. I did not survive the mountains alone, I could only survive them with the help of my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t be here now, I would have been left behind one of the climbs today.”
He also stated: “We will continue to fight for the intermediate sprints, and maybe also for a stage on the last day. We’ll see how it works.” Because whether the sprinters come to their dream finish this time is not guaranteed.