Photo Gallery: 2017 Tour de France, Stage 21
Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) took the first Tour de France stage win of his career Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, beating out Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) in the mad dash for the line.
A former Dutch national champion, Groenewegen, 24, came into the final right-hand turn second wheel, behind Katusha-Alpecin’s Rick Zabel after bumping Alexander Kristoff off Zabel’s wheel, and though he started his sprint at 205 metres to go, and though Greipel was quicker in the final 50 metres, Groenewegen crossed the line first to win the biggest sprint in pro cycling.
Chris Froome (Team Sky) crossed the finish line safely in yellow to secure his fourth Tour de France title in five years, 54 seconds ahead of Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) and 2:20 ahead of Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale). The win — Froome’s first victory this season — marked Team Sky’s fifth Tour victory in six years.
Team Sunweb’s Michael Matthews stood on the podium in Paris as the third Australian to win the green jersey competition. Matthews’ teammate Warren Barguil was awarded the King of the Mountains prize, as well as the Super Combativity award as the most combative rider of the entire three-week race. Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) was crowned the best young rider of the Tour de France, one year after his twin brother Adam won the same prize.
- The four jersey winners of the 2017 Tour de France: Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) in the white of best young rider, Michael Matthews (Sunweb) in the green of the points competition, Warren Barguil (Sunweb) in the polka dots of king of the mountains, and Chris Froome (Team Sky) in the yellow of general classification winner.
- Chris Froome’s bike that he’ll take to victory for his fourth Tour de France win.
- Team Sky’s general manager, David Brailsford who has now overseen five Tour de France wins. He told Sky Sports news, “The margins have been so tight this year. We had the yellow jersey right from the very first day with Geraint (Thomas), we lost it midway, then we got it back again. It’s just been the longest three weeks of our racing careers that’s for sure. But we got there in the end! “Chris said it was going to be the most difficult Tour for him to win and it proved that way. I think he’s shown what an amazing rider and great champion he is.”
- Sergio Henao (Team Sky) preferred celebratory beer over champagne on the run in to Paris.
- The peloton, upon its arrival in Paris, made its way through the Grand Palais– constructed in 1897 for the 1900 Universal Exposition.
- The peloton on the Champs-Élysées.
- Froome– flanked by his loyal squad. No one could match the teamwork of Team Sky during the 2017 Tour.
- Thomas Voeckler has had an outstanding history at the Tour de France since his debut in 2003 and at 38 years of age hinted at retirement: “Everybody goes in his own style. I liked what Tom Boonen did, retiring on the night of Paris-Roubaix, his favourite race. For me, it was obvious to end my career on the Champs-Élysées. I’ve had the great fortune to be able to choose the time and the place of my retirement. I don’t know what I’ll do afterwards. 38 is old for a cyclist but it’s no age to retire. I’ve got a second professional life ahead of me.”
- Simon Yates took home the white jersey indicating his longterm potential as a Tour de France favourite.
- 104th Tour de France 2017 Stage 21 – Montgeron › Paris (105km)
- 104th Tour de France 2017 Stage 21 – Montgeron › Paris (105km)
- Dmitri Gruzdev attacked late in the race as the peloton were getting organised.
- Zdenek Stybar overtook Gruzdev’s attack and went off the front alone in the final kilometers, but was unable to hold back the chasing peloton.
- Lotto NL-Jumbo sets pace for eventual winner Dylan Groenewegen.
- Despite a blistering final 50 meters, Groenewegen’s early sprint held off the charging Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal)
- Tony Arts, Sportdirector of Team Lotto NL – Jumbo celebrates as his team gets the coveted stage win on the final stage.
- Dylan Groenwegen has been knocking on the door all week and finally nails it.
- Teammates, roommates, and winners of half the classifications at the 2017 Tour.
- Froome shared a moment with his son atop the podium.
- In 2017 Matthews became the third Australian winner of the green points jersey.