Tour de France - Pogacar storms into the yellow jersey - "Was a dream stage"
In the shadow of the Alpine giant Col du Galibier, Tadej Pogacar beamed with pride in the Yellow Jersey and was even joking, while Jonas Vingegaard disappeared heavily. After a grand show in the midst of the meter-high snowdrifts at an altitude of 2642 meters, the Slovenian cycling star made a big step towards his third overall victory at the 111th Tour de France in the duel of giants.
"I'm really happy, that was the plan and we executed it well. It was a dream stage for me. I wanted to give it my all today, I trained hard for it", Pogacar said and hinted at further attacks: "I'm extremely motivated to keep going." Former Tour winner Jan Ullrich was impressed as an Eurosport expert: "Pogacar has that lightness. He can handle the pressure, he knows what he's dealing with. The Yellow Jersey suits him."
Pogacar dropped the Dane on the Galibier for the first time in this Tour and took back his twelfth stage win and the Yellow Jersey from Olympic champion Richard Carapaz (Ecuador). "This is one of the most beautiful stage wins I've ever had", added the Slovenian.
Pogacar took a 35-second lead over Belgian youngster Remco Evenepoel on the fourth stage. Vingegaard lost as fifth rider even more seconds and is therefore significantly behind. Due to bonus seconds, Pogacar now has a lead of 45 seconds over Evenepoel and 50 seconds over Vingegaard in the overall standings.
Roglic and Evenepoel no chance on the climb
However, Pogacar is warned: "Jonas is really good. He's in top form. We have to keep going. The next rendezvous is on Friday in the time trial." On the climb, Vingegaard is currently the only rider who can challenge Pogacar for the win. Only the Dane was able to put up a fight in the explosive sprints of the exceptional climber. Team colleague Primoz Roglic from the German Red Bull Team was powerless on the Galibier ascent and kept the damage to a minimum like time trial world champion Evenepoel due to a strong descent.
What a great duel on the first high mountain stage, which returned to France. How fiercely Pogacar seized the initiative 823 meters before the summit, but Vingegaard made it difficult for him on the 139.6 kilometer long stage from Pinerolo to Valloire. At some point, the resistance was broken. Up at the top, the Slovenian had not only a seven-second lead, but also eight bonus seconds in his pocket. And on the breathtaking descent at a speed of 90 km/h, Pogacar continued to increase his lead.
Raumfahrzeuge in action on the Galibier
The scene was set on the 23 kilometer long and an average of 5.1% steep ascent to the Galibier. The day before, road clearing vehicles had cleared the pass road of snow. On the mythical mountain, which was first included in the Tour program in 1911, it had still been snowing a month ago. Opened for public traffic was the Galibier only on June 23. What a contrasting program for the cyclists, who had to fight temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius at the Tour start in Italy at the weekend.
Pogacar's outstanding UAE team set a hellish pace on the roads. Notable stars like former Tour winners Geraint Thomas (Great Britain) and Egan Bernal (Colombia) or all of Vingegaard's helpers were dropped early.
First attack on the second to last climb
Already on the descent of Col de Montgenèvre, the second to last climb, Pogacar's UAE squad had set a high tempo, causing a large gap to form in the peloton. Vingegaard, unlike Primoz Roglic, was not caught off guard by the sudden attack. Peace returned quickly.
"The pressure is not on me," Vingegaard had already said before the duel. For the 27-year-old, who had suffered several rib fractures, a lung contusion, and a pneumothorax during the spring's Basque Country Tour, the priority was to prevent Pogacar from escaping. On Sunday, Vingegaard had bravely parried Pogacar's attacks during the first power test at San Luca.
After the mountain ordeals, sprinters could hope for a mass finish on Wednesday on the fifth stage over 177.4 kilometers from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas. Only two lighter climbs of the fourth category need to be dealt with.
Tadej Pogacar's dominance extended beyond the Alps, as his UCI WorldTour team also showcased their strength, dropping notable stars like Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal early in the race. The rivalry between Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard continued, with Pogacar taking a lead of 45 seconds over Evenepoel and 50 seconds over Vingegaard in the overall standings due to bonus seconds. This fierce competition was reminiscent of the International level of cycling, drawing comparisons to former Tour winner Jan Ullrich.
The Tour de France, now in its 111th edition, saw Pogacar claim his twelfth stage win and the Yellow Jersey from Richard Carapaz, the Olympic champion from Ecuador. This victory was particularly sweet for Pogacar, who had trained hard for it and considered the stage a dream come true. His performances in France were a stark contrast to the extreme heat experienced during the Tour start in Italy.
Vingegaard, despite his impressive form, found it challenging to keep up with Pogacar on the steep Alpine climbs. Primoz Roglic, also a strong contender, struggled to maintain pace, while Remco Evenepoel put up a good fight in the explosive sprints. The race was broadcast live on Eurosport, with experts like Ullrich offering insightful comments on the duel of giants.
As the Tour de France moved through France, the riders faced varying terrains, from the challenging Alps to the flatter stages in the south. The competition was fierce, with each stage victory a significant achievement, showcasing the high level of skill and endurance required in cycling. The race was a testament to the resilience and determination of the riders, as they continued to push their limits in pursuit of victory.
Pogacar's lead was not insurmountable, as Vingegaard and other competitors continued to challenge him. The race was far from over, with several stages still to come. The race was expected to heat up further, as the riders battled for every second, every millimeter of advantage they could gain. The Tour de France was a testament to the passion and dedication of the cyclists, as they pushed themselves to the limits in pursuit of glory.
