Pogačar warms up for fourth Tour bid by winning Critérium du Dauphiné
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates XRG celebrates winning the 8th and final stage of the 77th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race, 133.3 km from Val-d'Arc-Val-Cenis to Plateau du Mont Cenis. Stefano Cavasino/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar has won the Critérium du Dauphiné for the first time, boosting the Slovenian's hopes of a fourth triumph in the upcoming Grande Boucle.
The 26-year-old secured victory with a lead of nearly 1 minute over his Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard, successfully completing the dress rehearsal for the Tour, which begins on July 5 in Lille.
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Pogačar triumphed in three of the eight stages of the Dauphiné. He is only the third cyclist in history, after Frenchmen Louison Bobet (1955) and Bernard Hinault (1981) to win the Dauphiné while holding the world championship road title.
Sunday's final stage, a 133.3-kilometre route from Val-d'Arc to Val-Cenis, was won by Frenchman Lenny Martinez. Vingegaard and Pogačar finished second and third respectively.
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