France’s BARCELONNETTE (AFP) – Stage 18 of the Tour de France saw Belgian Victor Campenaerts cry tears of joy. Tadej Pogacar, the overall leader, and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard withheld their thunder for three difficult stages during the last weekend.

As the flight cleared out fifteen minutes early, Pogacar and Vingegaard appeared at ease, willing to hold their fire as the 2024 Tour approaches its conclusion in Nice on Sunday.

Pogacar shook his head at the line, saying, “Tomorrow and Saturday,” as if the days’ names themselves conveyed the enormity of the task that lay before.