Florian Lipowitz makes it onto the podium on the Tour de France

Florian Lipowitz was also unable to harm the stricter final stage of the Tour de France. The Hungry German bike star flanked up the Montmartre district by tens of thousands of party -loving fans and mastered the last little hurdle in front of his sensational third place in rainy Paris.

On his first tour of France, the 24-year-old celebrated his greatest success so far and completed the tour in third place behind defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark. For the Slovenian Star Pogacar, who also delivered a spectacular show at the end, it was already the fourth triumph at the most important stage race in the world.

The former biathlete and career changer climbed the podium of the world’s largest tour since the two-time tour rune-up Andreas Klöden since the two-time tour runner-up Andreas Klöden. With the white jersey, the Swabian crossed the finish line on the Champs-Élysées and ended the race as the best young driver-Jan Ullrich had recently managed for Germany 27 years ago.

Lipowitz’s success had emerged during the tour. Only a fall or a disease could have contested the huge triumph. In the Alps, despite a break -in, he had successfully defended his third place.

“He made it brilliant,” said ex-professional and expert Fabian Wegmann from the German Press Agency. “Great very big,” he pushed after. Lipowitz has arrived in the top of the world.

The former winter athlete has only been involved in the bike for five years. As with many stars, there is a meaningful narrative: Lipowitz contacted Red Bull team boss Ralph Denk and asked what he had to do to become a cycling professional.

At lunch, they got to know each other, as Denk said several times. In January he covered the bike 100 kilometers to get to the appointment. And afterwards it went back on two wheels. Denk was impressed by the young man’s will – the official describes the development of the Swabian as a “heart project”.

A rapid ascent followed in the years afterwards: seventh at the Spanish Vuelta last year. At Paris-Nizza he finished second, third on the Dauphiné tour behind the superstars Pogacar and Vingegaard. Hardly anyone would have thought the third overall rank of the most important bike race of the world before the tour.

In the overall ranking, Lipowitz kept the fourth -placed British Oscar Onley away, the second Vingegaard was almost seven minutes away. Pogacar won with a distance of almost four and a half minutes before the Danish two-time tour champion-since 2020 the two stars have made the tour victories among themselves.

On the occasion of the first target on the Champs-Élysées, the planners built the three-time crossing of the steep district of Montmartre, based on the model of the Olympic Games last year. This also prevented the mass sprint of the sprint -strong professionals that had become tradition – instead, the final reminded of a spring classic with various attacks.

The times of the overall leaders had already been taken around 50 kilometers before the finish, so that everything else served the show and the fight for the day’s victory.

But with a tour of D’Honneur, in which the overall leader is no longer attacked, the spectacle on the famous hill above the French metropolis didn’t have much to do. Pogacar did not spare himself and fought passionate attacks in front of the frenetic Paris viewers.

The Belgian all -rounder Woout van Aert celebrated the day victory on Sunday. The Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan cheered – even without a chance of a day’s victory – in the green jersey of the best driver. Pogacar also grabbed the dotted mountain jersey, which Jonas Vingegaard was allowed to carry.

On the side of his Cologne noble helper Nils Politt, Pogacar celebrated on the traditional tour d’Honneur before the start of the 132.3 kilometers towards Paris Triumphbogen. The end of the last tired pogacar was probably the conclusion. After the penultimate stage, he spoke of another “level” when it comes to hardness.

Pogacar had recently praised Lipowitz in the highest tones: “I think we will see a lot of him in the next few days and years,” said the exceptional driver after the German appearance in the Pyrenees.