You can say this Tour de France was lopsided, or slightly boring in places, but one thing you can’t say is that it didn’t have any heart. There were tears and hugs at almost every stage and Paris was no different. Except it had babies to be kissed as well! This last Tour Tweets of the Week for 2021 is filled with joy, laughs, creativity, #couchpeloton and a celebration that we were all in it together. Enjoy!
The fairytale ending
What they wanted to happen …
The perfect finish
— SuzeCY (@festinagirl) July 18, 2021
Set the new record, make your mark, retire and give back – like you say, top of your game with panache – no other way will do
— SuzeCY (@festinagirl) July 18, 2021
… against what actually did happen.
Amazing finish! I can’t believe he’s done it! #TDF2021 #TDF #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/yI0ZizdzBV
— AnnaMac (@AnnamacB) July 18, 2021
— Maxine Dodd – Racing Lines (@maxine_dodd) July 19, 2021
Wout van Aert 🤝 Eddy Merckx #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/DA8ovdMd7b
— Cycling Memes (@Cycling_Memes1) July 18, 2021
wild set of emotions there. super bummed for cav while being super stoked for wout
— Cycleboredom (@Cycleboredom) July 18, 2021
After that finish @MikeTeunissen deserves his weight in gold (and beer). The most phenomenal one-man leadout I've ever seen. Spot on. Chapeau.#TDF2021
— Will Newton (@InsidePeloton96) July 18, 2021
🇫🇷 #TDF2021
Mike! Mike! Mike!🔊 pic.twitter.com/Xoegp50b9G
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 18, 2021
The irony cannot be lost as a Belgian saves Eddy Merckx record…🇧🇪 @WoutvanAert 💪 #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/jgxZ5DTiSk
— Vélo Péloton (@VeloPeloton) July 18, 2021
Wout van Aert cementing his place, as if it was needed, as one of the most exciting and accomplished of the next generation of riders. For Mark Cavendish, the romantic in us may have wanted otherwise, but history doesn’t need it. The best sprinter the race has ever seen.
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) July 18, 2021
Question: Wout van Aert thou?
Answer: Everywhere— Brian Nygaard (@nygaardbn) July 18, 2021
Wout van Aert…. @SportsOrla pic.twitter.com/9ckv1l55SF
— Proper Cycling Magazine (@CyclingProper) July 17, 2021
Oooooh baby baby
This Tour de France was rather loved up – with Cav sweeping Alaphilippe into his arms after almost every sprint stage to tears and hugs from first-time Stage winners all through the race. And Paris was no different – lots of babies, little kids, wives, teammates, everyone got in on the act
Stage Winner: 🇧🇪 @WoutvanAert
A fantastic sprint sees the Belgian take his 3rd win on the #TDF2021
Un sprint fantastique ! Wout van Aert était le plus puissant aujourd'hui pour s'offrir les Champs ! pic.twitter.com/9Qim8LH34S
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
Wait, wot?
Are you saying he also won a BABY?!
That’s some f*cking talent there.
— Colin Lynch (@FormerTTchamp) July 18, 2021
For eternity 😍#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/CH2Hcox9IY
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) July 18, 2021
💛💚#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/ZeXczVnfTH
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
🇫🇷 #TDF2021
Bonne nuit et merci à tous!🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/LBNy3asLsA
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 18, 2021
And mums
Might not be a yellow jersey, but my Mum would be proud 🥲
Thank you @LeTour 💛 #TDF2021 https://t.co/PSdrDNtEMT— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 18, 2021
And wives (I think that might be against UCI rules …)
Gilbert takes his wife for a ride back to the hotel. #TourDeFrance pic.twitter.com/lPB5xXc7QT
— Reno (@renovandael) July 18, 2021
And absent countrymen
🇸🇮 The Slovenian riders celebrate this second Tour de France win without forgetting their fellow countryman @rogla! 💛
🇸🇮 Les Slovènes célèbrent ce deuxième titre consécutif sans oublier leur compatriote @rogla, forcé à l'abandon ! 💛#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/ssUZnZKp4P
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
And teammates (tell me Vingegaard doesn’t look like Andy Schleck from that angle …)
Waaaaaaaahhhhh @WoutvanAert and Jonas! Big guns, congrats to everyone @JumboVismaRoad !! pic.twitter.com/VbLKOZMylV
— Richard Plugge (@RichardPlugge) July 18, 2021
We sing a song of Andre Greipel
One of the classiest riders ever is retiring at the end of this year. You would be hard-pressed to find a video of Andre Greipel throwing all the toys out of his pram or failing to congratulate riders who beat him to the line. Always humble, always gracious (in winning as well as defeat) and always grounded. We wish him all the best of everything.
WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE & REMEMBER YOU BIG TIME ANDRE !❤️#supremosprinter #thebest #legend #gorilla🚲🦍👊🏼#wattpower⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/j8bddyiKov
— ❨ j ˖⋆✿ ༄wear a mask😷 (@sitdowninfront) July 17, 2021
Andre Greipel, who is 6th most victorious rider of all time (Source: PCS), announced that he'll retire at end of season. #TDF2021 https://t.co/zRqGBXngea
How it all started. Greipel's first of a total of 158 pro wins came in 2005 Post Danmark Rundt (📽️).https://t.co/ltbj9Lnnu5
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) July 17, 2021
What a legend! @andregreipel #beer pic.twitter.com/WjWkcyv8a8
— Peredur ap Gwynedd (@Perryguitar666) July 17, 2021
The youngest ISN rider in the #TDF2021, Omer Goldstein , shows his legendary teammate @AndreGreipel all the RESPECT. pic.twitter.com/f2Z5NnCWxR
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@TeamIsraelSUN) July 18, 2021
🎙️ "This was an emotional day, knowing that I would take on my last #TDF2021 stage." – @AndreGreipel
🎙️ "The whole team fought admirably and this is definitely something we can build on for the future.” – @RikVerbrugghe
📰 Final Report & Reactions: https://t.co/nhT4ytLCCm pic.twitter.com/xDtuGeQPNb
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@TeamIsraelSUN) July 18, 2021
The other peloton …
A special shout-out to fans that don’t let sleep get in their way when it comes to bike racing and (just as importantly) great tweeting during said bike races. We love you, #couchpeloton!
It’s been brilliant! Thank you for your excellent commentary and my compliments to the technical “back stage” crew also. See you at #LaVuelta21
— AliAprhys (Paterson) (@Alisurfer) July 18, 2021
Belinda … pure joie de vivre
#RookingRacingRecap #TDF2021 Edition is wrapped up!
Every Stage (except crash-fest Stage 3Confounded face) of #TDF in 2541 seconds. Handy if you can't remember which stage had the stuck sausage truck or when Richie went Willunga-ing. #CouchPeloton https://t.co/oYSx7S6PJZ— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) July 19, 2021
So much creativity! Loved the #TourdemyGarden from Englishtifosi
#Sunflowers on #TourdemyGarden. One rider still ahead of the bunch. #couchpeloton #TourdeFrance #TDF2021 #TDF #Cycling pic.twitter.com/tiEH7ADG0p
— Englishtifosi (@41Tourstages) July 16, 2021
On to the #ChampsElysees for the first lap! #TourdemyGarden. #couchpeloton #TourdeFrance #TDF2021 #TDF #Cycling pic.twitter.com/U8p9HiEft6
— Englishtifosi (@41Tourstages) July 18, 2021
The Barbie and Ken sets MrsFrog must have … Loved her recreations (#letourdepoupees) throughout the Tour
Stage 21 Chatou to Paris, Champs-Élysées Pt2 – Cav or Bling choose your own adventure podium #letourdepoupees #sbstdf #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/U9LbId8JSU
— MrsFrog (@musettedutour) July 18, 2021
This is pure genius
Stage 19 Mourenx to Libourne – Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil… please not again #letourdepoupees #sbstdf #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/yIt88FC4uZ
— MrsFrog (@musettedutour) July 17, 2021
And a little bit of cycling history with two slices of bread and a couple of dolls
To honour the 10th anniversary of Cadel's win, Schleck sandwich #toursanga #letourdepoupees #sbstdf #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/rmLjXhZmo3
— MrsFrog (@musettedutour) July 16, 2021
If you’re not already following the #couchpeloton hashtag, you must. They’re here all year and they’re a very welcoming bunch!
Just the usual reminder to all who have joined the couch for the TdF that the #couchpeloton is active throughout the year and especially when any cycling is televised. So don't be a stranger till next years Tour 🙂 (Coming up is the Olympics cycling and then La Vuelta).
— Dorian H (@The_Wolf71) July 17, 2021
If you missed it
‘I’m going to speak from the heart and just say what I have to say … ‘ Well put, Tadej
Speech! Speech!
🎙The winner of the #TDF2021: 🇸🇮 @tamaupogi pic.twitter.com/v81HRJWRAk
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
A feat for any rider. Billy should be proud
Giro ✅
Vuelta ✅
Le Tour ✅Mr Consistent – @RichardCarapazM makes it a remarkable hat-trick of Grand Tour podiums 🥇🥈🥉 pic.twitter.com/3TbBYZIU7P
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) July 18, 2021
In pictures: the thrills and spills of the 2021 Tour de France https://t.co/poBWlLxl4a
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) July 19, 2021
An alphabetical list of the 43 abandons, the respective riders' expectations, how they were racing, and why they left the Tour.#tdf2021 #tourdefrance #lostboyshttps://t.co/yRJGRBCkeq
— VeloNews (@velonews) July 19, 2021
Here's The Grubers with a lovely collection of photos from #TDF2021 https://t.co/O2ZBWSejRw
— CyclingTips (@cyclingtips) July 19, 2021
🇫🇷 #TDF2021
From Brest to Paris: the Tour de France was a roller coaster from start to finish🖤💛 #samenwinnen pic.twitter.com/RPeZiNbWNM
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 18, 2021
The Gruppetto
A podium of torsos
This image is objectively hilarious. #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/LJOKjxF5hH
— Kate Marzillier (@marzillk) July 18, 2021
La une du journal L'Équipe du lundi 19 juillet 2021.
Le journal > https://t.co/R9h8R6C3ej pic.twitter.com/Q4E9GqVFRK— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) July 19, 2021
Champers on the Champs
🥂Prost @Daniel87Oss🇮🇹#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/3SX2DDgCwO
— Tour de France – DE (@letour_de) July 18, 2021
Sprawled …
At what time do the street sweepers come on Champs-Élysées? Asking for a friend.#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/taEucFKYgT
— Alpecin-Fenix Cycling Team (@AlpecinFenix) July 18, 2021
Racing is all about tuftness
Glorious #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/0GR5rWC8Yu
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) July 18, 2021
Happiness is …
You’ve not seen true happiness until you’ve seen Richard Carapaz emerge from a quiet French service station clutching a Cornetto and a Kinder Bueno.
— George Solomon (@GeorgeSolomon) July 17, 2021
I love Paris in the summer … when it sizzles
📸 A.S.O / @a_gruber @jeredgruber pic.twitter.com/roWBFPDXgU
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
The last word
A quick 'merci beaucoup' to all the Bike Twitter folks for the good Tour de France conversation, discussion, and debate over the past few weeks. I (mostly) enjoyed it — and when I didn't, I just hit the mute button 😜 #TDF2021
— Neal Rogers (@nealrogers) July 18, 2021