The 2019 Tour de France was the 106th held. It started in Belgium on July 6th 2019, featuring 21 stages and covering a total distance of approximately 3,480 kilometers (2,162 miles). The start of the 2019 Tour 'the Grand Départ' was in Brussels in honour of the 50th anniversary of the first Tour de France win of Eddy Merckx.
Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal of Team Ineos emerged as the overall winner, becoming the first Colombian and the youngest rider in 110 years to win the race at the age of 22. Bernal took the yellow jersey after Stage 19, a shortened mountain stage due to severe weather conditions, where his strong performance on the Col de l'Iseran propelled him into the lead. He maintained his lead through the final stages, finishing the race 1 minute and 11 seconds ahead of his teammate and defending champion, British cyclist Geraint Thomas, who placed second. Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk completed the podium in third place.
Another significant aspect of his race was the strong performance of French riders Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot. Alaphilippe wore the yellow jersey for 14 days and captivated the French public with his aggressive riding and stage victories, while Pinot's climbing prowess made him a contender until he was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The race also saw Peter Sagan of Slovakia win the green jersey for the points classification for a record-breaking seventh time, demonstrating his consistency and dominance in the sprints. The polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountains was awarded to Frenchman Romain Bardet, and the white jersey for the best young rider went to Egan Bernal, reflecting his dual achievements.
Trivia
- In 2019 it was the second time the Grand Depart took place in Brussels, and the fifth Grand Depart in Belgium.
- Canadian Michael Woods became the first person to have run a sub-4 minute mile and also finish the Tour de France.
Related Pages
- Information about each of the tours
- The previous tour in 2018
- Tour de France home
- About the World of Sport in 2019
- About Sport in France