Tour de France: Wout van Aert spoils Mark Cavendish’s party as Belgian charges to victory in Paris

Ever because the unthinkable drifted into view, Mark Cavendish has refused to peer down the lens of future — at the least in public.

The 36-year-old has averted saying the title Eddy Merckx. He has resisted discuss of what might lie across the nook.

Instead, as each hurdle between him and historical past fell, the Manxman all the time maintained: every stage win is solely that. 

Wout Van Aert took victory on Stage 21 of the Tour de France, beating Mark Cavendish (proper) 

‘Cav’ could not seize his document thirty fifth stage, however joined Tadej Pogacar on the rostrum to acquire the inexperienced jersey after the Slovenian dominated the yellow jersey race 

And then, on the cobbles of the Champs-Elysees, the masks lastly slipped. As Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen trapped him towards the barrier, and stage win No 35 drifted out of sight, Cavendish tilted his head. He gritted his tooth. He banged his handlebars in frustration.

So there was no fairytale end to certainly one of sport’s most outstanding rebirths. Instead, Cavendish had to make do with 4 stage wins and a second inexperienced jersey. 

That in itself proves how remarkably he has shifted by way of the gears of expectation ever since a last-minute call-up to this race.

He wasn’t supposed to be right here, not to mention troubling Merckx’s 46-year document for stage wins. Now one other likelihood to surpass the Belgian should wait a yr — at the least.

It was Merckx’s compatriot, Van Aert, who took the ultimate stage of this yr’s Tour with one other sensible journey. 

The Slovenian rode into Paris along with his crew after dominating back-to-back editions of the Tour

Jonas Vingergaard and Richard Carapaz joined the 22-year-old on the rostrum of the GC 

Following Saturday’s time trial victory, he held off Cavendish and Philipsen of Alpecin-Fenix.

‘To end with a win like that is past expectations,’ Van Aert mentioned. ‘A victory like that is priceless.’

On Sunday evening, he boarded a flight in search of Olympic glory, too. For Cavendish, in the meantime, the approaching days will supply ample alternative to replicate on a outstanding race.

The spectacular remaining stage introduced the race to an finish after three weeks of struggling 

‘He simply froze,’ was Chris Boardman’s brutal verdict. ‘That wasn’t the Mark Cavendish we have seen earlier than.’

Before lengthy, the ache of falling quick ought to make method for pleasure. But how Cavendish will yearn for one more crack.

This was not fairly the procession into Paris now we have come to count on. Except for Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar who, at 22, toasted a second straight yellow jersey — as effectively as victory in the mountain and younger rider classifications. No one has gained two Tours at such a younger age.

The riders stormed by way of Paris earlier than Van Aert grabbed his third stage win of the race 

Pogacar and his UAE-Emirates crew led the sphere over the road for the primary of 9 journeys across the Champs-Elysees circuit. 

From there, the peloton reeled in a number of breakaways and splinter assaults to arrange a dash end. But with Cavendish eyeing a fifth win in Paris, a niche by no means appeared.

Not that the Manxman’s youngsters appeared to care as they led him on to the rostrum to have fun the inexperienced jersey — and an exceptional effort. It was some journey.