Tour de France 2026 Stage 21: Van der Poel defeats Pogačar in epic Paris finale as the Tour comes to a close
The 2026 Tour de France concluded with a spectacular finish on the streets of Paris as Mathieu van der Poel edged out Tadej Pogačar after an unforgettable duel over the Montmartre climbs and onto the Champs-Élysées. With the yellow jersey already secured, Pogačar still refused to settle for a ceremonial ride into Paris, attacking once again and producing one final battle that perfectly summed up this year’s race.
We break down the tactical showdown between two of the sport’s biggest stars, how Van der Poel held his nerve to claim one of the most prestigious stage victories in cycling.
We also reflect on the wider story of the 2026 Tour de France as Pogačar secured a fifth overall title, putting together another remarkable three-week performance that combined outright dominance with moments of selfless teamwork, including his support of teammate Isaac Del Toro in the fight for the final podium. From breakout stars and unforgettable stages to the biggest talking points of the race, we look back on everything that made this Tour so memorable.
And with the men’s race now complete, we take a look ahead to Tour de France Femmes. We preview the riders and stages to watch, the key storylines, and what you can expect from our daily coverage over the coming week.
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20 Comments
Itv4 coverage was the best and that has been carried through to The Love Of Cycling YouTube channel. Thanks so much. 😊
Thanks very much for all your shows, informative funny and very interesting brilliant tour ❤ 🎉
Well done to Ned, David, Pete and Lizzie. Last year’s despair at hearing that ITV wouldn’t be showing the race has been tempered by your expert and enthusiastic analysis. You painted better pictures with words than TNT’s “Playschool” level with pictures. (And Sean Kelly could bore for Great Britain) Thank you so much.
Thanks to all the FTLOC team….it's been fabulous, and a welcome addition to the coverage.
looking forward to seeing your TDF Femmes editions, this was brilliant & Lizzie D is as good a pundit as she was a rider! 🙌🏼 🚴🏼♂
thank you all so much. have a well earned rest,see you for the tdf Femmes. I think you should do la vuelta por favor.
Without doubt the greatest stage 21 I have ever seen. I’m 50 now and have been watching le tour for as long as I can remember from the days of big mig. It was simply epic
Ned, you have to write a book about your Tour adventures this year and how you got this excellent podcast put together. If it is anything like your previous brilliant books I will find it impossible to put down. 🤞🤞🤞
The last 2 years stage 21 was epic.
Another great series of Pods & videos, 😢 that it’s over though. Lizzie, you and Sir Mark Cavendish were so noble on the podium, each offering the other that Grand Départ ‘trophy’. Ned & David deserve trophies 😊
I could listen to ned read the phone book and it would still be interesting
Chapeau to you Ned and Everyone ! Well done, great pod, great discussions, looking forward to next year's but will catch your femmes coverage too. Merci and Vive le Tour !
Apparently, everyone has forgotten the final stage of 1989, when Greg LeMond won the individual time trial with a lead of only 8 seconds over Laurent Fignon. July 23, 1989. To me, that is still the most sensational end of the Tour de France.
Thanks Ned and the team – I have loved watching these updates. Just brilliant!
Thank you to the whole For The Love of Cycling team for three wonderful weeks of TdF podcasts. The best bit of summer is still the best bit because of what you’ve all brought us. Looking forward to your coverage of the TdF Femmes.
Thank you for a fantastic series of podcasts. Looking forward to joining you this coming weekend for the Tour Femme
Thanks so much for all your coverage. It's so great to see you all still following the race and bringing all that insight. From Lizzie to David to Ned,, I've loved it all. A fantastic tour with a finish for the ages. Thanks all of the memories and see you for the Tour De France Femmes ❤
You said that not even Pogacar could do what MVDP did, but you did not mention that he came 100 meters short while actually doing a great deal of racing in the stages leading up to stage 21. If they're both fresh, Pogacar has a gap after the third climb.
There’s a video on YouTube by someone called contemplation4. It’s shot from his apartment window on the Rue Lepic. No commentary just a single shot of all 4 passages up Montmatre with ambient noise. It’s epic. Thank you for the podcasts too. The Tour wouldn’t be the same without you all.
Thank you for the past 3 weeks Ned. You and the team have dispelled the fears that I had of a 3 week black hole where the TdF used to be. No it's not the same because I've missed Gary and other members of the ITV team but have enjoyed the analysis and alongside your Substack diary have still absorbed some of the essence of France and its culture. Sad about the fires down south and hope people there can stay safe and recover. Will be joining in for the Femmes. Au revoir.👏👏👏