Tadej Pogacar goes solo for Dauphiné stage win to reclaim yellow jersey
Tadej Pogacar soloed to victory in the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné on Friday to reclaim the yellow jersey and put himself firmly in contention for overall victory.
With this 97th victory of his career, the Slovenian, who cruised in 1min 1sec ahead of Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, becomes the active rider with the joint-most victories – on a par with French sprinter Arnaud Démare. Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who was leading the overall classification, finished fifth at 1min 50sec.
Pogacar now has a 43sec lead over Vingegaard, 54sec over Germany's Florian Lipowitz, and 1min and 22sec over Evenepoel.
The Slovenian UAE Team Emirates XRG rider had already worn the yellow jersey before in this 77th edition of the Dauphiné after claiming victory in the first stage last weekend. 'I'm super happy to be back in yellow. It was a very good day for us,' said Pogacar. 'I'm getting very good answers from this Dauphiné. I wasn't too stressed after the time-trial [on Wednesday] and the shape is here.'
On Friday, in the first of three mountain stages and competing under a baking sun, he took his revenge on Vingegaard on the Côte de Domancy, where the Dane had outclassed him in a time-trial at the 2023 Tour de France. The world champion put in an acceleration with 7km to go that left everyone in his wake. Only Vingegaard managed to hang on to his wheel for a few metres before settling back, unable to keep up with his rival.
Sign up to The Recap
The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action
after newsletter promotion
It was an important marker for Pogacar to put down to his leading Tour de France rivals before his title defence following the 26-year-old's sub-par showing in Wednesday's time-trial at the Dauphiné. Saturday's queen stage is a mountainous 132km run from Grand-Aigueblanche to Valmeinier 1800.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Car
2 hours ago
- Auto Car
Early bird catches the WEC: why Le Mans mornings are the best
Common logic holds that the Le Mans 24 Hours is at its most magical at night. And sure, it's incredible watching hypercars blast past in the dark at close to 200mph – but the rest of it can be a bit much. On Saturday night, the Circuit de la Sarthe morphs into a big party venue, and it can be an overwhelming sensory experience. The humidity that can build over Le Mans in mid-June clings on after nightfall, making it stifling and uncomfortable. And there's a mass of humanity everywhere, drinking, partying and swirling in and out of the spectator zones, funfair and campsites. With all this and the bright lights, loud noises and smells of various foods being cooked, it's loud, bustling and boisterous. For someone who isn't much of a partying type, it's a lot, and I'm always relieved to escape the mayhem. Besides, there's a much better time to enjoy Le Mans. You just need to get up early: because compared with Saturday night, Sunday morning at Le Mans is a different world – and, in my mind, an immeasurably better, more pleasurable one. The humidity fades overnight, and as the sun breaks under clear skies, it's usually fresh and welcoming. And, aside from the 50-plus high-powered race cars roaring round, it's peaceful. The throngs of fans have melted away, aside from a handful of fellow early starters (and the odd late-night reveller asleep on the ground), so you have your run of prime spectator spots.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Jenson Button: I am retiring from full-time racing after this season
There may not be a better chance for Jenson Button to add his name to the prestigious winners' list of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when he starts Saturday's gruelling race from the front row. And, it turns out, this may be his last chance. Twenty-seven years after Button won the British Formula Ford Championship, the first title of an illustrious career that took him to the top of the sport, the 45-year-old is finally ready to start easing back. 'I've got so many things going on and I just can't fit it all in,' Button tells Telegraph Sport from the Circuit de la Sarthe, where he will launch his fourth attempt to win Le Mans. 'Something's got to give.' Now married to former model Brittny Ward, Button has two children at home to worry about, son Hendrix, five, and their daughter Lenny, four. The family live in California, but Button's racing commitments and ambassadorial roles still take him all over the world. With family now coming first, Button is ready to wind it down. 'Next year, I'll probably take a slight back step in terms of I won't be doing a full season,' he says in what feels like a mini-retirement. 'I've got so many things going on and I just can't fit it all in. You know, I've had a fun career and hopefully the next five races this year are going to be awesome and we're going to end on a high. 'It's very unlikely I'll do a full season next year just because of timing. I definitely want to be racing in certain things here and there. I just can't put as much time as needed to one side for racing. You know, kids and life, it's too busy this year.' After leaving Formula One behind nine years ago – apart from a brief Monaco Grand Prix cameo in 2017 – many would have thought Button had retired into the luxuries that being a world champion affords later in life. But that assumption could not be further from reality. Button has become a motorsport nomad, a driver touring the globe in pursuit of the greatest challenges on offer behind the wheel. There was Super GT in Japan, his 2018 Le Mans debut and a foray into German sports cars, DTM. There has been British GT, Extreme E – think high-speed off-roading but on eco-friendly and sustainable fuels – and even Nascar, which culminated in the decision to bring one of the hulking Chevrolet Camaros across the Atlantic and race it here on this track in 2023. But in all that time, one thing regularly evaded Button: winning. The 2009 F1 world champion managed to put together a full season of Super GT in 2018 that led to him securing the championship, but remarkably he has not stood on the top step of the podium for almost seven years. So Button made the decision at the end of 2023 that he needed to settle down and find a permanent home. A nomad no more, the World Endurance Championship – and 25-year Le Mans veterans Team Jota– was his new home. 'I've been all over the place, I've been on the Mobil 1 journey,' he says, having partnered with the motor oil brand for more than two decades. 'It's been a hell of a journey, a lot of great experiences, but the problem is when you're jumping into something, you're not getting the best of yourself. 'When you do one or two races, you're racing against the guys that are the best in the business in that category. You're never going to beat them. So I was like, you know what, I need to do a full season of racing. And last year was an amazing first year to be with Jota, which is a private team, a lot less pressure leading into this year racing with a manufacturer.' Button's unveiling by Jota last year kicked up a stir, with the team unveiling two star-studded line-ups to drive their Porsche hypercar campaign. However, the chance to drive with manufacturer support led the team to switch this year to Cadillac, a move that could pay off handsomely if qualifying was anything to go by. The Jota Cadillacs will start first and second at 3pm on Saturday, leading the thoroughbred field of 62 cars into turn one with the front row locked out. 'There was unbelievable emotion by the whole team, so much adrenalin,' Button says. 'Some might say it is just qualifying, but qualifying in Le Mans is very special and also, because this is the first year of being a manufacturer team with Cadillac, it's a massive deal. And the front row as well, it's insane. Everyone's very happy, so proud of the team. 'We've had an up-and-down week. It's been difficult at times. There's been a lot of emotion flying around, some loud voices in the car. So it's lovely to come away with the one-two.' When it comes to a 24-hour race, qualifying is barely the battle, let alone the war. Button and his team-mates will need to fend off the fast Ferraris and Alpines, which look to have a notable straight-line advantage, while the next two rows of the grid will be filled by Porsche and BMW, who both had opportunities to beat Cadillac to pole. At least a four-horse race beckons, and that is without considering five-time winners Toyota. But the Cadillac offering looks a mighty proposition. As well as two separate entries by Wayne Taylor Racing and American Express Racing Whelan, the team look poised for an assault on what would be a first Le Mans top-class victory. The tears of success were already flowing on Thursday night, when Britain's Alex Lynn put the No 12 Jota Cadillac on pole position, ending a year's worth of heartache. 'It was special,' Lynn tells Telegraph Sport. 'Last year I qualified second, only one-10th [of a second] off. That hurt a lot because I thought the lap I did last year was really good. And to have someone beat it, it just spurred me on.' Unlike Button, Lynn was not so lucky in his pursuit of F1. Having made it to the Williams F1 development driver role, Lynn abandoned his dream and instead carved out a new chapter in WEC and Formula E, the all-electric single-seater series. But he has tasted success winning the Le Mans GTE Pro class in 2020 and standing on the podium two years ago with Cadillac. He has carved out a reputation as being one of the fastest drivers on the grid, and it all comes down to the desire to prove himself as 'Mr Hyperpole'. 'There hasn't really been a day in the last 12 months that I haven't thought about going one better,' he says. 'So actually Thursday night was a lot about redemption for me and wanting to feel that special feeling and being the fastest around Le Mans. 'There is an ego part of that. You want to be the one alone to stand out, but it is a huge team effort and I'm extremely privileged to be the one to be entrusted to deliver the performance when it matters.' At 31, Lynn is 14 years Button's junior and may still have his best racing years ahead of him. That is no longer the case for Button, who wants to go out on a high this year before easing back. 'I love my racing. I always will,' he says. 'I still do historic racing, the Goodwood Revival where I'm racing my C-type Jaguar [that was raced by Juan Manuel Fangio] and my E-type Jaguar. I'm racing in Rolex Reunion, in Laguna Seca in August. So there's so many little things I'm doing outside of the full racing season as well, because I just love driving. 'That probably will be it. Maybe a few other big races and I'd love to do Bathurst one year, maybe Daytona again and then I'd love to do some more cup races in Nascar. There's lots of fun things to do. This year is an important year for me.'
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid predictions, odds, and betting tips
PARIS Saint-Germain will face Atlético Madrid in the first of many European heavyweight clashes at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With world-class talent on both sides and continental pride on the line, this Group B encounter could prove decisive in the battle to top the table when the two contrasting styles clash on the global stage. PSG vs Atlético Madrid odds Find the latest football betting odds for PSG vs Atlético Madrid here. Our odds are provided by our recommended football betting sites and are subject to change. PSG vs Atlético Madrid predictions The opening match of Group B could prove decisive, with bookmakers tipping PSG and Atlético Madrid as the clear favorites to top the table. In what's seen as a two-horse race, this early showdown may set the tone for the group. Fresh from their Champions League success, Luis Enrique's PSG are 8/11 to win the group. Diego Simeone's Atlético are 6/4. There is then clear daylight to Botafogo at 10/1 and the Seattle Sounders at 20/1. There can be little surprise with these odds. Afterall, PSG didn't just win the Champions League, they dominated the whole competition from January onwards. The Parisians looked head and shoulders above any team on the continent as they advanced to the final, where they demolished Inter Milan in one of the most one-sided finals in the history of the competition. Maintaining that form in the FIFA Club World Cup could be difficult for Enrique, especially with some of his key players showing signs of fatigue. Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, in particular, looked like shadows of their PSG selves during recent Nations League outings with France. Reigniting their spark will be crucial if the treble-winning Spaniard is to lead his team to another trophy. If you're looking to get a team up and at it again after such a recent high, there could be easier teams to be facing than Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid. Atlético finished third in La Liga with 76 points from their 38 matches. They were 12 behind champions Barcelona and eight behind neighbours Real. Usually, this would be Atletico's level. But after significant investment in the team, expectations were higher, and Atlético were expected to turn the battle for the La Liga title into a three-horse race. At the halfway point, things were going fine. Atletico were on a 15-match winning streak in all competitions. They sat top of La Liga, and they were going well in the Champions League. Unfortunately, from mid January, the wheels started to fall off. There were too many draws in La Liga, and Atletico also crashed out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage to bitter rivals Real, albeit in a highly disputed penalty shootout. After all he has achieved at the Metropolitano over the past few years, Diego Simeone still has plenty of credit left in the bank. But that won't last forever, and after a dramatic collapse in the second half of the 2024/25 season, Simeone and his team need to deliver. Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid betting tips PSG finished the season in red hot form. Whether they can replicate that in the USA remains to be seen. Atlético ended a disappointing La Liga run in with back-to-back wins, scoring eight goals. Our Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid match betting tips are below: PSG to win or draw and both teams to score In their current form, we should really be going for a PSG win. The Parisians already have created history this season. It would be crazy if they are not fully committed to adding more silverware, especially given the dominant form they have been in over the past few weeks and months. But, with this being the opening match of the competition for both teams, and knowing what we do about Atletico, it is probably wise to have some insurance. PSG will no doubt find the back of the net. However, the Parisians did concede in nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions. Just in case they are not up to speed yet, we are going with PSG to win or draw and both teams to find the back of the net. Julian Alvarez to score first Atletico Madrid are notorious spoilers, and what better way to spoil a party than to take an early lead against the current European champions. Julian Alvarez knows how to handle the humidity in this area of the world. And as a FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina, he will no doubt be keen to put on a show on the global stage for his club side. It would be just like him to upstage all of PSG's in-form attackers. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score or assist Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished the season in excellent form for PSG. He scored a brace in his team's final Ligue 1 match of the season, and he followed that up with a goal in PSG's 5-0 annihilation of Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Kvaratskhelia has become an integral part of this PSG team. It would be no surprise to see him play a prominent role at the Club World Cup. 📺 How to watch Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, USA. Date and time: Sunday 15th June, 8pm BST. How to watch: DAZN. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
