Stage 21 takeaways

1. I was wrong about Van Der Poel. I thought he would go down more because of the hard days in the mountains, but I was wrong. Just incredibly strong today where only Pogacar could follow. The Montmartre was placed 10 kilometres from the finish compared to 6 kilometres from the finish last year, which gave the sprinters a better chance this year. This would result in a wonderful cat and mouse game all the way to the finish like we saw today. However, if we jump in to the infinite amount of "if's". Would Pedersen be able to win if he did not have to open so early, and sprint for 50 meters less? Maybe, but it was one of the most spectacular stages ever. I really like the introduction of the Montmartre, it just makes the race a lot more action packed.

2. Pogacar's limits. Finally we get to see them, he is just so versatile and strong in any terrain. But watching him getting challenged is always great to see.

The duel was just perfect today, it could not get any better than seeing the biggest stars of the cycling universe battle it out in Paris. The wide shot of the two champions of the sport coming out of the tunnel, was simply perfect. Chapeau to the route planer of the final stage.

After today's spectacular finale to this year's Tour, It is difficult not to fall in love with the finish we witnessed. You would have to be stubborn to continue advocating for the old format. Its entertainment value was undeniable, it brought all the race's biggest stars into the spotlight, and, most importantly, the organisers have finally perfected the concept of a stage in Paris.