Jonas Vingegaard (right) wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey embraces his partner Trine as he celebrates after the 20th stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race in southwestern France on July 23, 2022. Photo: AFP

Jonas Vingegaard rides into Paris on Sunday to be officially crowned the 2022 Tour de France champion after three weeks and 3,350 kilometers of relentless struggle up peaks, over plains and through a crushing heat wave.

The 21st and final stage is a largely ceremonial run which will see the remaining riders sip champagne as they breeze into the French capital.

The peloton rolls past the Jardin de Luxembourg, through Saint Michel, over Pont Neuf and past the Louvre before a sprint over eight laps of the Champs Elysees.

A presentation ceremony beneath the Arc de Triomphe takes place as the sun sets on the 109th edition of the world's greatest bike race that has been broadcast live in 60 nations.

Team Jumbo's Vingegaard tops the overall standings, 3 minutes 34 seconds ahead of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, while Geraint Thomas, the 2018 winner, stands third at 8 minutes 13 seconds.

The 25-year-old Vingegaard, who was runner-up in 2021 behind Pogacar, said he was already thinking about his 2023 challenge.

"I want to celebrate this victory first but of course I want to come back to the Tour to win another one," said the reluctant star. "I didn't set myself five Tours de France or anything like that. I just want to come back and win."

The Dane was eight seconds faster than his great rival on Saturday, and Pogacar looked downhearted at the finish line.

"I'm proud of myself, I did what I could, and at least I have the white jersey [best under-25s]," Pogacar said.

Thomas will also be remembered for his under the radar approach that delivered a podium place at 36.

"I'm over the moon to be on the podium, people talk about age, but for me it's about mentality, if you eat, train, rest properly you can achieve a lot," said Thomas.

Just three weeks ago, a wall of sound accompanied Vingegaard as he set out on the Tour which started on home ground in Copenhagen.

Danish fans turned out in astonishing numbers as the race sped through the verdant Scandinavian nation, taking in a sensational crossing of the 20 kilometers long Great Belt Bridge.

On day three, local man Magnus Cort Nielsen was cheered all the way through Jutland.

Many stars emerged along the route with Belgian rider Wout van Aert, a Jumbo teammate of Vingegaard, coming third on all three opening stages then pulling off a late escape to finally land a win on stage four at Calais as the race returned to France.

Defending champion Pogacar made all the early running with his lone wolf mentality, gradually clawing into top spot on stage six. 

But the stars aligned against Pogacar as he lost teammates to COVID-19 and injury. 

AFP