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
42km to go: We’ve got a breakaway! Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe), Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-Nippo), Casper Pedersen (DSM) and Harry Sweeny (Lotto-Soudal) have managed to grab a 30 second advantage.
Pedersen has now disappeared. No idea where he’s gone.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
45km to go: There it is! I’m basically a tourist guide now. The Arc de Triomphe, ladies and gentlemen.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
47km to go: Past the Louvre they go.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
50km to go: We are around 10 kilometres away from the intermediate sprint. Can Michael Matthews close the 35 point gap to Mark Cavendish just a little before the finish?
The attacks keep coming from a bunch of riders but it’s all very uncoordinated. Nobody has managed any more than three seconds gap.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
54km to go: The peloton has crossed the line! But we still have eight laps of the Parisian circuit before we get to the ‘actual’ finish.
The finish line is actually about 200 metres further back than it usually is this year. Hopefully that means there is a better camera angle of the last 100m or so.
Attacks have started! EF Education-Nippo get us underway with the proper racing.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
55km to go: Crowds swarming the streets of Paris now to catch a glimpse of the Tour de France peloton fly by them.
UAE Team Emirates are the first team to really stretch out the peloton with any sort of meaningful pace. The yellow jersey safely tucked in at the back of the team train.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
58km to go: Just 32km/h so far on today’s stage, significantly down from around 40km/h average throughout the race.
It will pick up significantly now though. Expect about another 90 minutes of action before what we think will be a sprint finish.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
62km to go: Alaphilippe leading the peloton for a moment there. Great to see the world champion being so animated in the Tour de France. He won the first stage of the race three weeks ago.
We are into the streets of Paris now.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
66km to go: Into the last 66 kilometres and still no breakaway. We are not yet onto the streets of Paris, though. I predict a move pretty quickly as soon as we reach the French capital.
Tour de France latest: Stage 21
What a shot that is. The riders turn in front of the Versailles Palace.
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