03x08 - Take a Bow

[bunniefuu]

[crowd cheering]

[all] ♪ Romain Bardet ♪

♪ Lalala, lalala, lalala ♪

-[melancholy music playing]
-[bells clanging]

This year's Tour de France
has been an incredibly spectacular one.

[commentator] First yellow jersey
or the Frenchman!

[laughing]

[commentator] Biniam Girmay wins his
first ever stage of the Tour de France!

-[yelling happily]
-[Anthony yells]

Oh, f*ck!

Yes!

[men yelling]

He won?

Yes!

[laughing] Oh yes!

The battle for the yellow jersey
has been intense.

I'm not allowed.

f*ck you, man!

You survived.

Jonas had the worst crash,

but he has been
battling it out every stage.

[commentator] Vingegaard's getting closer,
pedal stroke by pedal stroke.

[Chennaoui] Tadej Pogačar has dominated
the Tour de France so far.

[commentator]
The 14th stage win of his career.

[Chennaoui] He's leading the GC,
but the fight is not yet over.

[commentator 1] High altitude.

[commentator 2] Big three days.
A lot could still happen, you never know.

[commentator 1] This is the queen stage.

[Chennaoui] There is
one rider who still believes

he can win the yellow jersey
and take a third Tour de France title.

The last three stages will be very hard.

[man] 4,400 metres of elevation,
it is gonna be insane.

But the harder it is,
the more it suits me.

[man] This is brutal. This is so hard.

[commentator 1] Tadej Pogačar,
his advantage is three minutes, 11 seconds

on Jonas Vingegaard.

[cyclist] Poggy and his team
have to be really careful

because they just don't know
what Vingegaard is capable of.

Anything is possible in the Tour.

This race is on.

[intense note rises]

[dramatic tone playing]

[bicycles whooshing]

[dramatic music rises]

Tiesj is making progress, huh, guys?

Applause for Tiesj, yeah!
Applause for Tiesj!

On behalf of the coaches,
we really want to compliment you

for the way we raced Sunday,

where Jonas did
one of his best performances ever,

and it was also clear
that Pogačar was f*cked.

So now, we need to… to find the key,

uh, his weak spot, and, uh…

and can we use that
on Friday and Saturday?

Friday, we really want to go for it again,

and figure out in which way
do we believe we have the best chance

of winning with Jonas,
slash getting time back.

[Offredo] Tadej Pogačar
seems to be on top form.

But I still think that, deep down
in the hearts of the other riders,

they haven't given up hope yet
that, well, Tadej Pogačar is human.

[tense electronic music playing]

[Offredo] Because in previous years
in the Tour de France,

Tadej Pogačar always has a bad day.
Always in the high mountains.

And always in the last week.

[Niermann] Pogačar has his jersey
all the way zipped open.

I think he's not looking so good.

[Pogačar] I'm gone. I'm dead.

[Niermann] This year,
we have a very hard end to the Tour,

with the two biggest mountain stages.

We planned already
in the wintertime to win the race.

And in the final weekend,
we are going to make the best of it.

For me, I haven't lost faith.

Last year, it took quite some time
before he actually cracked, so…

It's like,
all in to still try and win it, right?

I would say, yeah. We should not
just go down without a fight, at least.

Okay, guys. Thanks.

[tense music continues]

I've showed before that,
especially in the third week,

is my best week, and, uh…

we will give absolutely
everything for…

to see if we can… if we can win.

[dramatic tone playing]

From all we know, like the last two years,

when we had a stage like this,
it was really possible.

I can… I know I can handle the fatigue.

Yeah. Ideally,
we have somebody in the break.

-Yeah.
-Huh? And then, yeah…

Then you have to take over,
and I hope that he'll be really fatigued.

-Yeah, yeah.
-But this is like…

This is the way we have to act tomorrow.

I agree. I agree.

Trine and Frida are
waiting for you on the top.

Exactly. It will be nice.

[Vingegaard] It's been a tough way,
it's been a long hard fight to…

to just make it to the Tour de France,
and of course…

Yeah. I would never have been able
to do it without my family.

They supported me every day.

-See there?
-Yeah.

[giggling]

[Vingegaard] It was, uh,
really emotional for all of us.

To be able to win for my family,

it would be really amazing.

[intense music rises, fades]

[birds chirping]

[Pogačar] Soft, gentle.

It's always hard, it's Tour de France.

The last three stages, 19, 20, 21,

you can have a bad day.

You easily lose five minutes,
six minutes, ten minutes.

Jonas, he's flying.

It's quite impressive.

All my bad days I had,
was long climbs and altitude.

Yeah, I just cracked
physically and mentally.

I think that was the worst day
on my… on the bike.

If he would attack
with a bit more surprise or something…

I think he could make… make me suffer
a bit more and maybe crack me.

He knows that he can win again this year.

I don't want to have any regrets.

[dramatic music playing]

[host] Good morning, everyone,
you are on the Tour de France route.

In three days time,
the scene will be lovely

on a street that's miles away.

A beautiful promenade,
Promenade des Anglais! But not yet.

First, we have to wend our way
through the Alps of Provence.

It's sure to be a gruelling stage today
where we can expect absolute chaos

and a shake-up in the positions.

[Chennaoui] With Visma-Lease a Bike
and UAE Team Emirates dominating,

very little has been left
for others at this race.

For the likes of
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale,

who've invested big money in success,

time is running out
to get anything from this Tour de France.

[Jurdie] Today's focus is simple,
it's the General Classification.

And our main objective,
and it's really important,

is to place in the top ten.

We need to concentrate our efforts
so that Felix can win a top-ten position.

Decathlon-AG2R are not having
the Tour de France they would have liked.

[Piquet] Felix Gall is in difficulty.

He is distanced.
Gall is in difficulty. He's distanced.

We won a stage at last year's Tour
and finished eighth.

This year, we have
to do every bit as well.

[Jurdie] We set out
with a double objective.

Stages with Sam, and the GC with Felix.

It hasn't gone to plan.

[Chennaoui] Their star sprinter
has gone home.

[commentator] Hard blow
for sprinter Sam Bennett.

It's the end of his Tour de France.

[Chennaoui] Felix Gall sits in 11th.

There's a big difference between
finishing tenth and finishing 11th.

To finish top ten
could be the success of the season.

I still cannot relax
because I am a leader,

and it's a lot of pressure.

Especially if you're not winning anything.

[dramatic music playing]

[Gall] Of course, there's also pressure
with the new sponsor.

I know I have the responsibility
to give 100% for the goal of the team.

Even a top ten, it's not so easy.

-I was hoping that it was possible.
-Yeah.

I am, uh, still okay.

The top seven or eight is
still up for grabs. It's still possible.

We should all be strong
so that Felix can have a strong finish.

We don't have a choice, do we?

I mean, if he can't do it, it's no good.

It's a difficult time right now.

But that's just the way it is.

But you show character and keep pushing
when you go through difficulties.

There's no point
getting upset and angry, though,

especially at a time
when we all need a good performance.

I've been like this
since I was a small boy.

'Cause when I was younger
and played games with friends,

I threw everything on the floor
when I saw I wasn't going to win.

I have always been like this
and been a combative soul, you know?

It's just the way I am.

-Yeah, yeah.
-[journalist] Are you okay?

-Yeah, well…
-You okay? It's not too bad!

We're on a knife edge.
Which way is it gonna go, you know?

Are we gonna stay 11th?
Or are we going to tip over?

We're on a knife edge, and I hope
it'll tip in the right direction. Upwards.

Well, all the best with it.

It is clear that we are under pressure.

[indistinct radio chatter]

And with the big teams like Visma and UAE
controlling the peloton very aggressively,

it makes it very difficult
for all the rest of us

to be able to compete here and win.

Okay, Fabrizio, let's go.

[crowd cheering]

[commentator] It's a short stage,
but it packs an enormous punch.

Jonas Vingegaard, does he have
something special for today?

We'll just keep an eye
on what the Visma-Lease a Bike plan is,

because this is the stage
that Visma have played for.

This is the one that they have planned.

This is the one that they believed,
even before Jonas was injured,

that they could win the Tour de France on.

The ideal situation for us would be
Jonas attacking on the Bonette,

getting separation.

If that would be the case,
that would be, of course, ideal.

[intense music playing]

[Chennaoui] Visma-Lease a Bike's plans
for Jonas Vingegaard,

to make back time on Tadej Pogačar
and try to win that yellow jersey,

means this stage
will be raced aggressively.

The pace is going to be high,

and at this stage in the race,
riders will get dropped.

[commentator] Heading for
the summit of La Bonette.

It's the highest road in France.
It's a long, long, long climb.

Dearie me, what's going on?

[Niermann] Really good job, Jonas.
Really good.

I think we should try it by surprise.

Come on now.

[Vingegaard] We have a feeling
that UAE were very afraid of our plan.

Five kilometres to the steepest part.

[Vingegaard] And, um, then UAE starts
pulling very hard to try to break me.

[commentator] The pace
has suddenly picked up,

and the show of force of UAE
Team Emirates is relentless.

Good job, guys. Good job.

The battle for the General Classification
is merciless,

and the contenders accelerate.

These riders simply can't respond.

This f*cking stupid Tour.

[intense music playing]

[commentator 2] There is a bit of a gap,
with seven or eight riders being dropped.

[commentator 1] Steff Cras has been
dropped here, and Felix Gall,

two riders,
in terms of general classification,

distanced by this sudden acceleration
of the team of UAE on the climb.

[Piquet] Felix Gall,
Felix Gall, digging deep now.

Steff Cras distanced
from the yellow jersey group.

Come on. Come on, it's not what we want.

[Piquet] Gall is distanced. Felix Gall…

Yeah, it's… I cannot really…

Yeah, they attack, and they're gone.

[commentator 1] The peak
of the Tour de France.

A Tour de France has never reached
an altitude of 2,803 metres.

[commentator 2] Above 2,000 metres,
oxygen is scarce,

and this is a problem for many riders.

[Niermann] When you're in high altitude,
it's harder to breathe,

it's harder to put out
your maximum performance.

And, yeah, normally Jonas is really good

in that particular part of the climb.

[commentator] Jonas Vingegaard
fully in control.

You gotta tell 'em
to stop pushing so hard.

They need to sit back a bit.

If they k*ll themselves now,
Tadej will be on his own.

They gotta be careful.

[Vingegaard] It seemed like
a few teammates of Tadej

are getting a bit tired there.

You always just have an eye on him,

and if I see an opportunity,
I will still take it.

[dramatic music playing]

[Niermann] One K, it again
flattens a bit for you, Jonas.

But you do it on your own feeling, huh?
Come on, you do a great job.

From the car,
you can make very nice tactics,

and come up with very nice ideas
where you do attack.

But he is the one on the bike.
He has to make the final call.

We just saw from distance that Pogačar
was peering around a bit.

Looking down a little and all that.

He is starting to get tired.

[sighs]

[commentator] Which of
these two riders is feeling best?

Which of these two riders is bluffing?

I'm a bit tense, but it'll be okay.

For sure, uh, at that point, uh…

I was nervous.

[Niermann] 4K bottle point, 5K the top.

[commentator] Can Vingegaard
pull something out of the hat?

We're gonna find out
which rider is the strongest.

[Pogačar] But on Bonette,

I was looking around, and…

he didn't seem so confident.

[intense music playing]

He marked me all those years.
I don't move from his wheel, and, uh…

not leaving any… anything to a chance.

[loud cheering]

[commentator] And now Tadej Pogačar!

Pogačar decides to strike!

I was like, okay, now…
we go for the stage.

[commentator] Big acceleration!

He looks at Vingegaard and says,

"Anything you can do, I can do better".

Just f*cking punish him!
Come on. You go back to him!

[commentator] The blow has been dealt.

Vingegaard is gonna try and come back!

[Vingegaard]
I didn't really expect Tadej attacking.

I knew that if somebody could follow him,
it would be me.

[commentator] Tadej Pogačar
is rampaging his way across the mountains

of the Tour de France.

[Hauptman] You can do it, Tadej.
You can do it.

[commentator] Can Vingegaard do it?

Has he got one more stinging attack?

[Vingegaard] Grischa.

I don't feel so good.

[melancholy music playing]

I'm really sorry. I don't feel my legs.

That Friday to Isola was to turn
the Tour de France upside down,

but it was one of the worst days
I've had on a bike.

[commentator] The scintillating speed
of the superstar Slovenian

is too hot to handle!

[Vingegaard] I never had
days like this before, but, yeah,

some days it is just like that.

[commentator] Pogačar is
flying his way up this mountain now.

Go, Tadej, that's it.
Come on, come on, come on, come on.

[Pogačar] I was on a good day.

I know that really long climbs
are not the best what I do, but,

yeah, I felt really good, and, uh…

Finally, I got it,
and I can relax a bit now.

[chuckles]

[commentator] It's a triumph
for Tadej Pogačar.

Four stage wins
in this year's Tour de France.

His domination is total.

-Good, good, good. [laughing]
-Good, good, good, good.

He's gotta be
the best rider out there by far.

He's clearly the best
in the world right now.

Too bad, but it is what it is.

That was the moment
where we finally had to…

admit to ourselves that
we are only fighting for second place.

[melancholy music playing]

[loud cheering]

[commentator] It's official,
the gap between Pogačar

and Vingegaard is now over five minutes.

This is hard for Jonas Vingegaard.

He realises now
the dream of victory is over.

And he breaks.

[melancholy music continues]

I was just completely empty.

Completely dead.

[sobs]

Hey, I'm proud of you.

You did everything.
That's what matters. Really.

[Vingegaard] I think 20 years ago,
nobody dared to…

to show emotions, but now, yeah…

it only shows that you're human,
to be honest.

[commentator] And here is Felix Gall.

This is not good for him.
He will move from 11th to 14th place

in the overall classification tonight.

[dramatic tone playing]

[emotional piano music playing]

[Gall] Super disappointing.

Um…

it's not happening any more.

You know, you fight…

for 18 stages for every second,

and your teammates, uh,
they turn themselves inside out, and…

All for nothing.

There's nothing worse than to finish
a Tour de France without a win.

And that's what happened to us last year.

[Lavenu] So, anyway,
Felix wasn't great today.

[Barrett] Yeah, it was tough.

He had a bad feeling from the start.

But it's a good question as to why.

Because it's not normal.

[Lavenu] What do you think's
wrong with him? Is it his legs?

Well, I don't think
it's a question of legs.

But what it is, I'm not so sure.

So, there is something
we need to learn and understand.

But if it's not his ability,
then there's got to be

something else going on, hasn't there?

[Serieys] We had a plan which didn't work.

We are in a tough situation,
and we are not coping,

we are not up to it.

And this is a problem.

-All right?
-No, I haven't. Haven't seen him.

We're going to evolve and make changes,

and chase results
that right now are unattainable.

We started the Tour
thinking we were gonna smash it.

Sadly, it didn't work out that way.

So, understandably, it's difficult.

It's been one of the hardest
times of my career.

Even if you have a great cycling season,

if you can't cope in the Tour de France,
then nothing matters besides that.

[reporter] Vincent Lavenu, manager of
the legendary AG2R team for over 32 years,

one of the oldest French cycling teams,

has been unceremoniously
removed from the team.

[melancholy music playing]


OF DEDICATION ENDED IN ONE FELL SWOOP

[Lavenu] The biggest shock for me

was now knowing
that you are less important.

Suddenly, you are no longer relevant.

It cuts even more keenly when you've been
running a company for many years.

[commentator 1] His is one of the top
teams at the start of the Tour de France.

[commentator 2] At the edge of endurance,
Felix Gall wins.

[Lavenu sobbing] I can't believe it.

We've had 18 Tours together.

That's a lot of tears, yet so much joy.

-Yes!
-[laughs]

What a rollercoaster!

When I look back…

[sighs] …we've, uh, we've been through
a hell of a lot together,

and it's been a crazy ride.

It's gonna be emotional, you know?

Clearly, cycling has been his whole life.

[Lavenu] I'm proud of what we've achieved.

But the circumstances
of this year's Tour were very unusual.

I mean, Pogačar has ridden
some incredible races

and won incredible victories.

And there's been
little in it for the rest.

But what could I do though?

[dramatic tone playing]

[journalist] Jonas, how brutal
is this year's Tour de France,

and how super is Tadej Pogačar
in this year's edition?

Yeah, I mean,
I think he's on a super high level.

I mean, I was also on
a super high level, uh,

the first two weeks,
and then now a bit less, but…

Yeah, now the fight for the win is over,

but for the second and third place,
it's not over.

Now it's another two days,
and I just have to try to do my best

to stay in the second place.

[melancholy music playing]

[girl on phone] Hi!
Yeah, it's okay. It's fine.

[laughs]

[girl] Yeah, it's okay. It doesn't hurt.

[Vingegaard] I think
that cycling is very hard.

You have to make a lot of sacrifices,
and I'm a lot away from home,

from my wife, from my daughter.

[Trine] She's so lovely.

[Vingegaard] I didn't
want to fight any more.

-She's fantastic.
-Yes, she is.

But, of course,

my mindset is to go for the best
possible position in the classification.

And then…
Yeah, then we'll see what happens.

[dramatic tone playing]

[host 1] Hello, everyone.

[chuckling]

And welcome to the penultimate stage
f this year's Tour de France.

We are, without doubt,
in a wonderful place.

[host 2] Riders can often
take the penultimate stage with ease,

but not this time. Impossible.

[indistinct chatter]

Still a nice one, eh?
Nice is always chaos.

And it's family photo now.

Like at school.

[Offredo] After Vingegaard's
performance on Stage 19,

there is one rider
who can make a power move.

Remco Evenepoel, who's in third place.

Knowing the young rider and his character,

he will chase Jonas Vingegaard
relentlessly as a message to the future.

A warning which states,

"I'm not just here the once.
Next year, I'm coming back".

[rapid electronic music playing]

[commentator 3] Second and third places
are very much for the taking.

[commentator 1] Yeah, you're right.
I mean, there's less than two minutes

between Jonas Vingegaard
and Remco Evenepoel.

So, Remco will have a great chance
to snatch second place

here at this year's Tour de France.

This is it, then, you lot.

The last time, guys. The last time, eh?

[man] Not the last. The penultimate.

No, but with
the sticky numbers, it's the last time.

So, goal number one
was to win the Tour de France.

You good?

But Tadej has destroyed
the rest of the competition.

That feeling of losing, or not winning,
is not something I've ever felt before.

And I've learned that you lose more races
than you win when you compete in the Tour.

Although,
if you're Tadej Pogačar, you won't.

I know now that Tadej's nailed it,

he's going to win the Tour de France.

But in my head,
I… I am focusing on the number two spot.

So, guys, you feel the end is near.

You feel everybody's tired,
we are also tired.

But it's also a good moment
to try to hit back.

And that's what you're gonna do today.

We already did a super good three weeks.

It's just one final push.

I feel still fresh.

I think Jonas was
less fresh than myself yesterday

after the finish line.

There's a huge possibility.

We really have to commit to the plan
and believe in it.

[dramatic music playing]

I'm feeling good

in terms of morale and motivation again
after the Stage 19 performance.

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel
and Vingegaard locked together.

I feel a sense of responsibility
towards my whole team.

If I can finish second in the GC,

I'd prove to them all
that our future is looking good.

[man] Ready for today?

Yeah.

Ready to rumble.

[music intensifies]

The main goal for the day,
keep Jonas in second place.

We stay in front around Jonas,

and Jonas always reacts on Remco.

We are aware Remco might
try to attack Jonas.

Especially because
he gave the worst impression,

I would say, of the whole
Tour de France, he gave on Stage 19.

And we know that
it will be a super, super hard day.

Yesterday, I wanted to try to attack,
but I didn't have the legs, and…

I'm not giving up,
I still want to finish second.

And I'm really motivated for today,

and I'll, of course, do everything
I can to follow Remco.

You show him that you are
the better climber and GC rider.

[exciting music playing]

[commentator] It's a very difficult day
in the mountains.

It could be one of those crazy days
when everything explodes.

Okay, guys, at the back
you're already suffering, yeah?

[commentator] Team Soudal-Quick-Step

is trying to put
something in place for Remco Evenepoel.

Come on, boys, now. You got this.

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel
looks very comfortable this afternoon,

the team in front of him.

You don't have to be afraid
to go into the battle with them, I think.

They will look at us, that's for sure.

They will not get freedom.

They will keep us close,
but, as a team, I think we're strong.

[commentator] Vingegaard is much
further down in the group at the moment.

I heard that Vingegaard
was a bit ropey this morning.

[commentator] This is the final climb.

Col de la Couillole.
The finish is at the top.

As the climbers know,
they need to ride this flat out.

We can go up a gear here.

[Piquet] …on the left.

Then we'll see what happens.

[commentator] Begins to force
the pace on this climb.

After I set a very high pace
with my teammate Mikel Landa,

I prepared my attack.

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel,
he seems calm, serene and focused.

[Vingegaard] You really
have to be careful.

If Remco attacks,
you have to follow, of course.

[dramatic tone playing]

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel
decides to strike!

Come on, Remco!

[intense music plays, fades]

[commentator] First move does nothing.

Come on, Jonas,
sit in the wheel and profit, huh?

[Evenepoel] I told myself,
"Just wait a little bit longer".

"Just keep putting
more pressure on Jonas."

[epic music playing]

[commentator] Remco, another
big acceleration! Big gear change there.

Set the high pace,
as long, as long as possible, eh?

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel trying
to put Jonas Vingegaard on the ropes.

Come on, eh?

[crowd cheering]

I thought he was beginning
to get very tired out there.

But he didn't let go,
so I got back on my… back on my saddle.

I'm still one of the best guys, of course.

[intense music playing]

I can go on the limit
of what you're capable of,

and give everything you have.

[commentator] Jonas Vingegaard
attacks in turn.

Evenepoel dropped, Evenepoel dropped.

[commentator] Counter-attack
by Jonas Vingegaard.

Keep fighting, mate. Come on, mate!

[commentator] Key moment for Vingegaard.

This is a huge step towards
securing second place overall.

[Vingegaard] He's, yeah, a good rider.

I knew that he would be there,
he would be up with us.

But even if I was at 95% or 90% then,

I won the Tour de France two times.

Jonas, you've shown
that you're stronger, very good.

[commentator 3] Remco Evenepoel
took a big risk today.

Come on, seriously?

Hey!

I had nothing more to give out there.

My legs were empty, they were so tired.

So, I settled into a slower rhythm
and just resigned myself to third place.

And accepted that
those two are better than me.

[melancholy music playing]

[Lefevere] We were always
hoping to have more.

He has the bad luck that he now

is in the same generation
than Tadej and Vingegaard.

[loud cheering]

[Lefevere] The coming years
will be more difficult for him,

because now he was third.

And people are expecting from him
that he will do better in the future,

and himself, he thinks as well like this.

But, um, he learns from it,

and this is something
he will take with him for the next years.

[music intensifies]

[commentator] The two best riders
in the Tour de France

got rid of the third man.

Two great champions who will
battle it out for the stage win.

And the yellow jersey speeds up.
Vingegaard shakes his head.

Tadej Pogačar flies towards his
fifth stage win in this Tour de France.

[triumphant music playing]

[crowd cheering]

[commentator] The winner here
at the peak of the Col de La Couillole.

More than ever,
the hero of the 2024 Tour de France.

Another stage win for a small team.

-[scoffs]
-[laughs]

[announcer] It's Tadej Pogačar!

[Offredo] After almost
three weeks of the Tour de France,

the mountain stages are over.

There's just a time trial for them all
as they ride towards Nice.

Not Paris this time, but Nice.

There is one certainty, however,
the finishing podium will not change.

Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard
and Remco Evenepoel.

Yet only one, though,
will be crowned champion at the end.

[dramatic music playing]

[interviewer] When people talk about you,
like, greatest of all time,

what do you think about that?

It's flattering, but…

let's wait. Maybe…

at least the end of my career.

And then, they can speak about
whatever they want.

[Piquet] Best time for Tadej Pogačar
is 39 minutes, 28 seconds.



Tadej Pogačar in the lead
at the third checkpoint.

[Pogačar] I always loved to race
against all the best in the world.

Then you really can say that
you won against everybody, no?

[commentator] Mark Cavendish,
the Manx m*ssile,

has completed his career
in the Tour de France.

He came here with one thing on his mind,
and one thing only,

to take the record of Eddy Merckx.

He kisses the air,
and he says goodbye to the fans.

[Cavendish] Every single bike rider
grew up dreaming about the Tour.

And, uh, one stage makes a rider's career.

One stage changes your life.

Understand the beauty of history
being created at the Tour, I guess.

[melancholy music playing]

[commentator] No one has an answer
to the speed of the yellow jersey.

Biniam Girmay is the green jersey
of the Tour de France.

A historic moment
that ushers cycling into a new era.

To win the green jersey, it's like, yeah.

[exhales] What can I say, you know?

[crowd cheering]

I think this is the only thing
you can have in your life,

the best moment.

[commentator] Remco Evenepoel
finishes third in the Tour de France.

[Evenepoel] I am happy
with everything I did,

everything the team have achieved.

I was pretty much
the only one out there challenging them.

To share the podium with these
two Tour de France winners,

it's still something very special.

I think day by day,
week by week, season by season,

we will get there if we're patient.

[commentator] The crowd greeting
the Slovenian superstar,

Tadej Pogačar, who has chosen
to make it another stage win.

[triumphant music playing]

One minute and two seconds faster
in real time than Jonas Vingegaard,

the defending champion
of this Tour de France.

[Vingegaard] We believed that
I still had a chance of fighting.

We had to see how far I could make it.

and I did make it
to a very, very high level.

This year, absolutely nothing has been
going according to the plan we've made.

With my injury…

Yeah, it's just…

It's almost a bigger achievement,
that I'm finishing second,

than winning a Tour de France

where everything
is going perfectly to the plan.

[commentator] Tadej Pogačar,
six stage wins

and third victory in a Tour de France.

[Gianetti] He doesn't
win just for himself.

He wants to be a role model
and inspire the riders of the future.

Watching him win is emotional.

[crew yelling happily]

[Pogačar] It was just
a lot of work, and all this, so…

For sure, you feel relieved,
now that all this hard work has paid off.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Mark. Congrats to you, huh?

[Cavendish] There will always be a rider
in a generation that comes around,

and that's him.

It's wicked, it's beautiful,
to have shared a peloton with him

and to have seen that firsthand.

[music intensifies]

[Gianetti] He's a mighty champion.
The greatest champion of them all.

[music fades]

[dramatic electronic music playing]

[music stops]