Tour de France 2021 LIVE: Stage 21 latest updates as Tadej Pogacar looks to retain title today
Follow live updates from the final stage of this year’s Tour de France
This year’s edition of the Tour de France comes to a conclusion on the Champs-Elysees today, with two key storylines to follow.
Tadej Pogacar, who has been clad in the yellow jersey since stage seven, will look to become the youngest rider ever to retain the title. The 22-year-old Slovenian has been dominant over the last three weeks and seems a lock to win the race this afternoon, though the stage victory could go to another rider.
Mark Cavendish’s remarkable resurgence this summer has seen the Manx rider win four stages to equal the all-time overall stage wins record held by Eddy Merckx, and one more this afternoon would see the 36-year-old go clear of the Belgian legend. Cavendish in fact has history on the Champs-Elysees, which provides one of the fastest finishes in cycling, having won four times. A record fifth win there would of course give way to the Manxman claiming the record everyone has been talking about during this year’s race. Cavendish can also ensure he holds onto the green jersey with a stage victory, although it is likely he will not need the win to keep the points classification lead as his nearest challenger Michael Matthews is not expected to win in Paris.
Follow live updates from the final stage of the Tour de France below.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
25km to go: By the way, the break has been swept up now. 30 seconds turned into five very quickly and before I could blink the trio were gone.
Deceuninck-Quick Step are absolutely all over the front today. They are on a mission to deliver this for Mark Cavendish.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
28km to go: More epic scenery that I simply have to stick in the blog. Just 28 kilometres to go now.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
Obligatory yellow jersey in front of the Arc de Triomphe photo.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
30km to go: Schelling goes on the attack but Alaphilippe and Gilbert are straight on his wheel. Quick Step involved in shutting everything down at the moment.
I wonder why?
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
Cavendish beating Matthews in the intermediate sprint...
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
33km to go: Just five laps to go now as the three leaders still hold an advantage of around 10 seconds. I’m saying it now - there is no chance of them making it.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
34km to go: One thing I won’t miss about blogging the Tour de France is having to talk about a live event while I’m just seeing adverts. Not a fan.
Anyway, we’re back now and we have just 34 kilometres left.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
Here was UAE Team Emirates arriving at the Parisian start line to begin the peloton’s eight laps of the city.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
39km to go: So the breakaway take the first three sets of intermediate sprint points.
Here comes the peloton now...Cavendish takes it from the bunch. That was easy. Morkov managed second as well, Matthews third.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
41km to go: About to reach the intermediate sprint now. Konrad, Sweeny and Bissegger are out front so they will take the big points on offer.
Matthews and Cavendish both looking interested in this.
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