Tadej Pogacar set for fourth Tour de France win as stage 19 shortened after discovery of contagious cow disease on route

News.com.au

a day ago

Dutch rider Thymen Arensman picked up a second stage win at the Tour de France on Friday, winning stage 19 at La Plagne ski resort as defending champion Tadej Pogacar closed in on a fourth title.
Arensman crossed the finish line exhausted but delirious in the heavy rain,
two seconds ahead of title contender Jonas Vingegaard and his great rival Pogacar.
The Dutchman's win came after the 19th stage of the Tour de France was shortened due to the discovery of a contagious disease in a herd of cattle located along the original route between Albertville and La Plagne.
'The discovery of an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle in a herd located specifically in the Col des Saisies has necessitated the culling of the animals,' said organisers in a statement about Friday's stage.
'In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided, in agreement with the relevant authorities, to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville-La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the Col des Saisies.' This considerably changes the profile of the stage, which will now be just 95km long instead of the planned 129.9km.
Pogacar should claim his fourth Tour de France title aged just 26 years in Paris on Sunday.
The attack-minded Pogacar explained how he had played it safe with just two days left until the race finish on the Champs-Elysees.
'When Arensman attacked I let him go, setting my own rhythm. It was close, I did want to win, but I'm just glad it's over,' Pogacar said.
'It was a good win from Thymen, he deserved it.' The Slovenian exits the Alps with a lead of 4min 24sec on second-placed Vingegaard.
Vingegaard for once finished ahead of Pogacar, but this was a fourth second-place finish on this 21-day slog.
Pogacar has dominated the 2025 Tour de France, winning stages on rolling runs in the north and west at Rouen and the Mur de Bretagne in the first week, then twice on the mountain slopes of the Pyrenees in week two.