Pogacar dismisses the entire field of the Tour
Instead of a final attack by Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar demonstrates power on the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France. The Slovenian rides alone in the challenging Alpine course, securing himself de facto the General Classification.
Tadej Pogacar looked back one last time, then the cycling superstar riding in the Yellow Jersey lifted both fists in the air and bowed to the public. With an attack for the history books, Pogacar gave a brutal lesson to the hopeless competition and is close to his third overall victory.
Pogacar, in perpetual attack mode since the start of the Tour three weeks ago, outclassed demoralized rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel in the thin air of the Alps. The first Giro-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998 is within reach after this impressive power display.
At the brutal 19th stage over three 2,000-meter peaks, Pogacar triumphed as a soloist in Isola 2000 on Friday. It was already his fourth stage win at the 111th French Grand Tour. Titleholder Vingegaard and Evenepoel reached the finish with a 1:42-minute deficit. Pogacar's lead in the General Classification over Vingegaard is almost untouchable at 4:58 minutes.
A historic decision was also made in the battle for the Green Jersey. Three-time stage winner Biniam Girmay will finish the Tour as the winner of the Points Classification if he reaches the finish in Nice on Sunday. The sprinter from Eritrea cannot be caught by his Belgian pursuer Jasper Philipsen, and as the first African professional cyclist, he will end the Grand Boucle in green. The 33-point lead cannot be made up on the upcoming Alpine stage and the final Individual Time Trial.
Girmay did not collect any more points on Friday. A breakaway group decided the early Sprint classification among themselves, while Pogacar's UAE Team controlled the chase in the main field. Pogacar himself had doubts before the start in Embrun: "This is the best Tour of my career. I am very satisfied with my form. It's a super stage to try something."
Before the decisive attack nine kilometers from the finish, Pogacar could rely on his teammates. Pogacar's German teammate Nils Politt rode more than half the way at the front. The teammates, Pogacar, and his rivals held back.
In the final climb to Isola 2000, Pogacar took the initiative. Pogacar attacked and flew away. The gap to the duo Vingegaard/Evenepoel grew steadily, leaving the remaining breakaways behind. "You're doing it," the Sports Management radioed to him. Pogacar did it. Two kilometers from the finish, he caught the last breakaway rider Matteo Jorgenson and made it clear.
One last mountain test awaits Pogacar on Saturday. From Nice, the route goes into the steep climbs of the Cote d'Azur hinterland and to a difficult mountain finish on the Col de la Couillole. With 132.8 km, the stage is relatively short.
Following his dominance on the Tour de France's challenging Alpine course, Tadej Pogacar is poised to make cycling history by achieving the first Giro-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998. During the grueling 19th stage, Pogacar displayed remarkable sporting prowess, completing the route as a soloist and extending his lead in the General Classification.
As the Yellow Jersey wore, Pogacar consistently outperformed rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel in the thin Alpine air, showing the sheer strength and endurance that has made him a cycling legend.
