News24
28 Jul 2019, 17:42 GMT+10
Paris - Egan Bernal will clinch victory in the Tour de France on Sunday as long as he avoids any last minute disaster on the twilight parade to Paris to become the first Colombian winner of cycling's greatest prize and its youngest in more than a century.
The 22-year-old champion-in-waiting along with the other 155 men left standing after the gruelling three week 3 480 kilometre cycling odyssey will set off from Rambouillet on the largely ceremonial closing 21st stage.
Eight laps of the Champs-Elysees round off the iconic event with Bernal set to don the race winner's yellow jersey with the sun going down behind the Arc de Triomphe at around 1930.
Bernal said he appreciated he had finally added his name to the Tour de France roll of honour when outgoing champion and Ineos teammate Geraint Thomas held out his hand at the end of Saturday's stage.
"I realised it was over and I was going to win the Tour de France," said the man topping the 2019 general classifications for this anniversary edition celebrating 100 years of the yellow jersey.
Bernal and Thomas crossed the winning line a few seconds ahead of their key rivals and smiled broadly at each other as they held hands in unity to mark the moment.
Thomas, who will take second overall with Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk in third, believes this landmark triumph is the start of a golden future for his Ineos co-captain.
"I told Egan not to worry about the crying because all real men cry," said Thomas.
"He's an incredible talent and can dominate the race for years to come.
"It's a one-two for Ineos so things worked out not that bad. I'm disappointed not to have won, I didn't think last year Egan would be ready yet, but now I'm looking forward to a bit of downtime."
"Today is about Egan. He is a really solid guy with a great team and good people around him."
Bernal leads the Welshman by 1min 11sec overall and Jumbo-Visma's Kruijswijk by 1min 31sec.
He said he was so nervous on Saturday's climb to Val Thorens in the Alps that he counted down the kilometres on the way up.
"I still have to get to Paris but it's incredible," said Bernal who will become the Tour's youngest winner since Francois Faber in 1909.
"I'm a little calmer now. I kept thinking 5km, 4km, 3km one less, one less to go each time as we came up the mountain."
The stage itself was won by 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali who broke from the main contenders late on to win by 17sec at the line where he raised his finger to his lips and to the sky.
Ineos principal Dave Brailsford has masterminded seven Tour wins from the last eight editions with Bradley Wiggins, Chri Froome (four wins), Thomas and now with Bernal within a parade of the latest triumph.
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, who led for 14 days before cracking on Friday's hail and landslide-hit stage, finished down the field to drop to fifth place overall.
The day's ride, which was shortened to 59.5kms due to poor weather and more mudslides, embarked in cool conditions in 12 Celsius from Albertville at 2 356m altitude.
Green jersey wearer Peter Sagan said he was delighted the race had been modified.
"Tomorrow is Paris and one for the sprinters, so let's see, a win in Paris would be great," said the Slovak gunning for the sprinter's jersey for a record seventh time.
"It's been a beautiful Tour," he added.
Frenchman Romain Bardet redeemed what had looked like a disastrous three weeks for him by rallying to win the 'King of the Mountains' polka dot jersey with two fine performances in the Alps.
Get a daily dose of Poland Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Poland Sun.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Tánaiste Simon Harris has called on the United States to use every hour to reach a zero-for-zero tariff agreement...
DUBLIN, Ireland: A blind woman from Dublin says she was hurt while getting off a bus because the driver refused to pull in close to...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that there could be a serious trolley crisis this summer...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...