Wout van Aert wins solo on the Champs-Elysees! Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France but is beaten by Visma on hectic stage 21

Wout van Aert is a rider that does not win often but when he does, it's big. His first win of the year was at the Giro's 'Strade Bianche' stage and the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider has now won stage 21 of the Tour de France. The final day of the race was won by the Belgian with a solo attack as he dropped Tadej Pogacar on the final ascent of the Montmartre.

The riders finally reached Paris after a small celebration early in the day, despite the final circuit including some climbing and even early there being a small ascent. The riders could enjoy their calm ride in the outskirts of the city before entering the final circuit where riders also met the rain.

Before the Montmartre circuit we had Florian Lipowitz and Quinn Simmons delivering some early action with an interesting breakaway, one that was short lived as the leadout battle for the first narrow cobbled ascent was fierce and the pace never really slowed down. The heavy rain that was falling made the circuit very treacherous.

Julian Alaphilippe launched an attack the first time up Montmartre with Arnaud de Lie in the wheel, closed by Tadej Pogacar. A group of around 25 riders formed itself in front, missing Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier and the last winner of a sprint on the Champs-Élysées - Jordi Meeus. On the second ascent Pogacar hit the front to split the group, followed only by Visma's Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson; Matteo Trentin, Davide Ballerini and Matej Mohoric. The group collaborated into the final ascent extending it's gap over the chasers.

Jorgenson attacked several times before the final climb to take advantage of Visma's superiority but Mohoric and Trentin closed down the attacks. Pogacar moved on the final climb of Montmartre but then in the final meters of the climb Van Aert attacked over the yellow jersey and got a gap that he would take into the descent and the final flat kilometers. Van Aert took a glorious victory in Paris, his second of the year but one that will last for the ages.

Davide Ballerini rode to an impressive second place but disappointed without the stage victory that could've changed his career, followed by Matej Mohorric. Pogacar was fourth at the finish line, crossing it in celebration as he confirmed his overall victory.