Tour de France - Pogacar beats rival Vingegaard at first Pyrenees display
Tadej Pogacar launched an unprecedented attack against Jonas Vingegaard just before the first mountain finish of the 111th Tour de France up the steep ramp. The Slovenian celebrated a significant victory against his long-time rival, finishing the stage comfortably ahead of the Danish title defender.
At the finish line in Pla d'Adet in the Pyrenees, Pogacar crossed the finish line 39 seconds before Vingegaard. The 25-year-old Pogacar finished 1:10 minutes ahead of Remco Evenepoel in the 151.9 km long 14th stage that started in Pau. Evenepoel came in third place. In the general classification, Pogacar now leads with 1:57 minutes over Vingegaard and 2:22 minutes over Evenepoel. The time trial world champion relinquished his second place.
Politt keeps the pace high
Pogacar's German teammate Nils Politt kept the tempo of the main field high for a long time. Pogacar attacked Vingegaard 4.6 kilometers before the finish. He gradually gained valuable seconds on his competitors. Vingegaard tried to keep up but couldn't stay on Pogacar's wheel.
Both exceptional riders have engaged in several duels during this year's race. Pogacar overtook Vingegaard by a few seconds at the Col du Galibier. The defending Tour champion remained calm. He countered Pogacar's attacks in the following stages and raised the tension in Yellow with his defensive driving style. Pogacar complained, but Vingegaard defended the tactics of his team. In the ski resort of Le Lioran, the 27-year-old managed to finish just ahead of Pogacar and win the stage.
Corona symptoms with Pidcock
The first of two Pyrenean challenges came on the weekend, with the Tour-classic Col du Tourmalet being one of them. The 19-kilometer climb required an average gradient of more than seven percent. The challenging finish on the Pla d'Adet included almost eight percent for more than ten kilometers.
Tom Pidcock was spared from the chaos. Unfortunately for the once British Tour stage winner. His Team Ineos announced shortly before the start of the stage that the 24-year-old would return home due to Corona symptoms. The team was known for being very cautious. Team members had recently worn masks. Currently, there are no fixed Corona measures at the Tour. Several riders in the peloton are reportedly infected with Corona while on the road.
A more challenging Pyrenean stage awaits on Sunday for the national holiday. The King's stage with a start in Loudenvielle and a finish on the Plateau de Beille is considered the greatest challenge of this year's race with its more than 4800 height meters and 197.7 kilometers.
- Despite the ongoing challenges posed by Coronavirus in the peloton, professional cyclists continue to push their limits.
- Nils Politt, a professional from Germany, played a crucial role in maintaining a fast pace during the Tour de France, specifically during the stage that culminated at Pla d'Adet in the Pyrenees.
- Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian champion, and Nils Politt's teammate, displayed an impressive display of cycling prowess in the Pyrenees, executing attacks against rival riders, including France's historical rival, Germany.
- As the competition between Pogacar and Tadej Pogacar reached the peak of a climb in the Pyrenees, with the Tour de France and the arrival at a mountain drawing near, Pogacar made a significant move ahead of Vingegaard, securing a win at Pau.
- Despite the steep terrain and challenging conditions of the Pyrenees, cycling professionals like Tadej Pogacar and Nils Politt continue to showcase their skill and determination, adding excitement to the ongoing Tour de France.
