NICE: Tadez Pogacar will be firmly in the spotlight as he heads down the ramp in the final day's final individual time trial in his adopted home of Monaco, all but safe to claim a third Tour de France title.
The final leg of the 2024 Tour will be broadcast around the world as it speeds along the Corniche from Monaco to the Riviera city of Nice.
“I can go home from there and sleep,” Pogacker said at the start of the tour.
After five stage wins, Pogakar has a five minute and 14 second lead over the winner of the past two editions, Jonas Vingegaard.
It would be his third Tour win barring a major event, completing a double not achieved since the Tour-Giro d'Italia in 1998.
It will also give him a platform for potential Olympic glory in two weeks and the World Championships soon after.
The 25-year-old, runner-up to Vingegaard in the last two Tours, took the lead on day four, attacking his main rival downhill after the race entered France through the Alps.
Other stars emerged along the way, as Eritrean rider Biniam Girme won three stages, the sprint points showing the green jersey and national hero status in his homeland.
He narrowly beat 2023 sprint king Jasper Philipsen, who won three stages but never led the points race.
Belgian newcomer Remko Evenepoel is set to win the white jersey of best young rider, also winning the first individual time trial and looking good for a place on the podium going into the final day in third.
Evenpoel, 24, finished 2min 50sec behind second-placed Wingegaard, but is expected to win the individual race on the final day.
“He's the best time-trialer in the world,” Vingegaard said Saturday.
Olympic champion Richard Carapaz has been hailed as the most combative rider in the 2024 Tour.
The Ecuadorian EF rider won a stage, took the yellow jersey for a day and came close to other victories. He raced on Saturday in a polka dot Best Climbers jersey.
Another Belgian won hearts, as the tough Victor Campenaerts made a jut for dad everywhere.
After winning a three-way battle to close out Stage 18, he grabbed the phone for a video call with his partner, who immediately showed him his newborn baby, Gustaf, father in tears.
“You don't know how much it means,” he said, though no one asked if he was talking about winning the stage.
The Frenchman also performed well, taking the first day's win with Kevin Vauclin and calming the nerves of the home fans.
Romain Bardet, a two-time podium finisher who retires, should be well received in Nice after a good tour. He took the yellow jersey, for one day.
Mark Cavendish also grabbed the headlines, claiming a record 35th stage win.
