How did Mathieu van der Poel secure his Champs Elysees victory?

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Mathieu van der Poel Secured Champs Elysees Victory Through Persistent Effort and a Late Surge

Mathieu van der Poel secured his victory on the final stage of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees by initiating a decisive breakaway and then pushing to the very limit in the closing metres. Despite being joined by Tadej Pogacar for a significant portion of the final 10km, Van der Poel ultimately surged ahead with 700 metres remaining, narrowly holding off his chasers in a photo-finish. He admitted to thinking he might be caught but focused on giving his maximum effort in the final 500 metres.
Escape with Pogacar on Montmartre

Van der Poel, a renowned cobbled classics specialist, launched his winning move alongside the world champion Tadej Pogacar. The pair broke away on the Montmartre climb, an ascent that was densely packed with enthusiastic spectators. Both riders committed fully to their extended breakaway, maintaining a strong pace towards the finish line for approximately 10 kilometres, with the main peloton of sprinters gradually closing the gap from just a few seconds behind.
Solo Surge in the Final Kilometres

As the race entered its critical final phase, with less than a kilometre to go, Van der Poel made his decisive solo attack. He surged ahead as Pogacar began to falter, leaving the Slovenian rider behind. This aggressive move allowed Van der Poel to gain enough of a lead to contest the win directly against the fast-approaching bunch, ultimately leading to the tight photo-finish.
Holding Off the Chasers

In the immediate aftermath of the stage, Van der Poel confessed to doubts about his ability to hold off the pursuing riders. He described how, in the final 500 metres, he simply focused on putting his head down and expending all his remaining energy. He was anticipating a wheel passing him but was surprised when no one managed to overtake him. It was only at the very last moment that he saw the Pirelli tyre of his Alpecin Premier Tech teammate, Jasper Philipsen, alongside him, indicating just how close the finish was.

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How did Mathieu van der Poel secure his Champs Elysees victory?

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