Tour de France - The Strongest
The decision at the 111th Tour de France could be read in the reactions of superstars Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. While the dominant Slovenian got a winner's kiss from his fiancée Urska, the Dane was weeping in the arms of his wife Trine. The relaxed-looking Pogacar, after his clear victory over the rival in the ski resort Isola 2000 following an impressive mountain ride, stood before his Double-Triumph from Giro- and Tour-Win.
"I see better than ever before, I would also say that. I am extremely happy", said Pogacar on Friday with dirt on his face. "I thought Jonas was trying it at Bonette. I think their main goal was to win the stage."
At the Cime de la Bonette, the highest point of the Tour, the expected attack of Vingegaard was missing. Almost nine kilometers before the finish, Pogacar attacked the seemingly defenseless Vingegaard, overtook the few riders in front of him from the breakaway group, and rode away unstoppably.
Two days before the final Individual Time Trial in Nice, Pogacar rolled across the finish line first after the 144.6 kilometers between Embrun and Isola 2000. He celebrated his fourth stage win at this year's French Grand Tour and his overall 15th stage success at the Tour. The Dane Vingegaard seemed mainly concerned with defending the second place in the General Classification from the Belgian Remco Evenepoel.
"Pogacar is the strongest", said Vingegaard's sports director Grischa Niermann. "That's not the end, but it's very likely the end, to win the Tour this year", Niermann admitted. "Jonas has said he doesn't feel dependent on Pogacar", Niermann added.
Pogacar builds up a clear advantage
The exceptional rider Pogacar also set new standards in other ways. After the Tour stage, he put on the leader's jersey for the 37th time in this year at a Grand Tour. He now shares the record with cycling legend Eddy Merckx, who set the record in 1970. Merckx wore the pink jersey at the Giro 20 times and the yellow jersey of the Tour 17 times.
In the General Classification, the man in the yellow jersey significantly increased his comfortable advantage. He now leads by 5:03 minutes over titleholder Vingegaard and by 7:01 minutes over the third-placed Evenepoel. If there is no performance drop, no illness, or crash, then Pogacar could celebrate his third Tour-Win on Sunday in Nice at the Côte d'Azur.
The highest point of the Tour
For the pros, it was still a thrilling ride in the Alps. At the Col de la Bonette, the highest point, awaited them with 2802 meters the highest point ever driven in the Tour. Before that, they had to overcome the Col de Vars. Both climbs belonged to the highest category.
Above all, the sprinters reached their limits and hoped not to fall outside the time limit. The organizers had corrected the time limit in favor of the fast men. The team around Vingegaard knew they had to deliver to make Pogacar a threat again. From the beginning, they set the pace, drove the breakaway group forcefully forward. The expected attack from Vingegaard at Bonette, however, did not materialize - all the more so since Pogacar had four teammates with him. Vingegaard had none.
With the Alpine stage from Nice to Col de la Couillole on Saturday and the final time trial from Monaco to Nice on the following day, there are still two stages left for the Alpes-Maritimes Alps Etape. However, the displayed performances raise doubts about whether Pogacar can be displaced from the top of the General Classification.
- In the preliminary decision, the organizers corrected the time limit in favor of the sprinters, recognizing their limitations during the Alpine stage.
- Tadej Pogacar's double triumph at the Giro- and Tour-Win has set new records, tying him with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
- The dominance of Tadej Pogacar in cycling is evident in his 37th leader's jersey in a Grand Tour this year, a joint record with Merckx.
- Taking advantage of Vingegaard's absence, Pogacar attacked during the Individual time trial in Nice, extending his lead in the General Classification.
- The crowd in France cheered as Tadej Pogacar celebrated his fourth stage win at this year's French Grand Tour, drawing closer to a potential third Tour de France victory.
- Grischa Niermann, Vingegaard's sports director, acknowledged that Pogacar is the strongest competitor this year, but also emphasized that Jonas does not feel dependent on him.
- The International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour has witnessed an incredible display of cycling prowess in the Alps during the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogacar standing out as the dominant figure.
