Race leader Tadej Pogacar makes history with fourth stage win of this Tour de France
Pogacar completed the 10.9km route from Loudenvielle - 8km of which was made up of the first category climb to the mountain top airstrip - in a time of 23 minutes flat, putting another 36 seconds into his closest rival Jonas Vingegaard as others fell even further back.
It was a fourth stage win of this year's Tour for the 26-year-old, who is now 14 shy of Mark Cavendish 's all-time record.
A day after he underlined his dominance so far with a solo win on the Hautacam, Pogacar extended his lead over Vingegaard to four minutes and seven seconds, and barring misfortune, it is hard to see how anyone can stop him winning a fourth title.
'I'm super happy,' said Pogacar. 'This time trial was quite a big question mark already in December for me. I wanted everything to be perfect and the team delivered in the final moments for everything to be on top.
'I had an easy day in the morning, a nice preparation and then I was really targeting to go from the start to the finish all out and try to smash it as much as possible on the pedals.
'I almost blew up in the end but I saw the time [on the finish line screens] and it gave me an extra push because I knew I was going to win.'
After losing more than two minutes to Pogacar on Thursday, Vingegaard was much happier after catching a struggling Remco Evenepoel, his two-minute man, 50 metres from the line on the 15 per cent gradients at the top of the runway.
'Of course yesterday was really disappointing,' the two-time Tour winner, who cracked when Pogacar accelerated on the lower slopes of Hautacam, said. 'I hoped for more but in the end I was just a bit empty.
'Yesterday was probably one of my worst performances but today was one of my best so it's nice to come back like this.'
Both Vingegaard and Evenepoel, the world time trial champion, were among a handful of riders that opted to go with adapted time trial bikes, while Pogacar chose a road bike and made the decision pay.
Having shipped more than two minutes to both Pogacar and Vingegaard, Evenepoel barely hung on to third place overall and the best young rider's white jersey, just six seconds ahead of Florian Lipowitz.
Lipowitz and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Primoz Roglic both put in brilliant performances, Slovenian Roglic finishing third on the stage at 1'20' behind Pogacar.
The 22-year-old Scot Oscar Onley is also definitely part of the fight for the podium, up to fifth overall, eight minutes off yellow but only 47 seconds behind Evenepoel.
'Looking at the times now it looks like we were all suffering a little bit but I did what I could," Onley said.
'With the steep runway at the end, I just had to hold back a little bit but it was difficult with the rest of the climb just an uncomfortable gradient.'
It was a second consecutive bad day for Evenepoel, who said he had 'no idea' why he has struggled.
'With a normal feeling I should end up in the top three but I was really bad,' he said.
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
One of the hardest, if not the hardest, Tours I've been in, says Pogacar
PONTARLIER, France, July 26 (Reuters) - Tadej Pogacar all but sealed his fourth Tour de France title on Saturday after surviving what he claims is one of the most brutal Tours he has ridden, leaving only Sunday's ride into Paris between him and another triumph in the world's greatest race. The defending champion leads Jonas Vingegaard by 4:24 in the general classification heading into Stage 21, which will feature a spectacular finale with three climbs of the Butte Montmartre in the French capital — a twist on the traditional Champs-Elysees parade. 'Every year we say it's the hardest Tour ever, but I know that this year's Tour was something on another level,' Pogacar told reporters after finishing Saturday's 20th stage in the main bunch. 'Maybe one day we went a bit easier, but if you look at the power files throughout the whole Tour, it's been really amazing and tough. Even today we almost went all out from start to finish.' The 26-year-old, who previously won the race in 2020, 2021 and last year, said the gruelling route had tested the peloton to its limits. 'I must say that even though it was the hardest, one of the hardest Tours I ever did, I enjoyed it and had good shape and good legs. Really looking forward to the last day tomorrow,' Pogacar, who has won 10 stages in the last two Tours, added. After crossing the line on the penultimate stage, Pogacar, who on Friday said he was counting down the kilometres to Paris, hinted at a quick return to his bike despite three punishing weeks on the road. "Monday, I travel home, Tuesday maybe I go on the bike. You never know — if I feel good, I do a bit of riding, stop for coffee and enjoy summer at home," he said with a smile. Asked about a possible appearance at the Vuelta a Espana later this year, which could further cement his place among cycling's greatest in case of victory, Pogacar remained non-committal. "We will decide a couple of days after the Tour, after everything is calm. Then we can make decisions for the next races," he said. "I think it's going to be tough to decide. Of course, I would like to go to the Vuelta. Every year I do the Tour and I would like to do the Vuelta one day also, yeah, we will see." World champion Pogacar has won the Tour three times, achieved a rare Giro-Tour double last year, and has already claimed victory in three of the five Monuments - the most prestigious one-day races - prompting comparisons with Belgian all-time great Eddy Merckx.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Kaden Groves clinches first Tour de France stage victory as Tadej Pogacar takes one more step to overall title
Kaden Groves won stage 20 of the Tour de France from a breakaway in Pontarlier as Tadej Pogacar came through the penultimate day unscathed to ensure he will wear yellow into Paris on Sunday. Groves left Frank van den Broek and Briton Jake Stewart behind with 16 kilometres of the rolling 184km stage from Nantua remaining, taking advantage of their hesitancy to quickly build a lead as he won by 55 seconds from Van den Broek, completing a trilogy with wins in all three Grand Tours. Behind, the peloton rolled in some seven minutes down, happy to survive a damp day that saw several riders crash as Pogacar retained his four minute 24 second lead over rival Jonas Vingegaard on the last day before Paris. The addition of three ascents of the Montmartre climb to Sunday's finale may rule out the usual Champs-Elysees sprint and keep the racing on for one more day - subject to a threat of rain - but Pogacar can almost start celebrating his fourth Tour title and begin plotting a record-equalling fifth. 'Today we weren't sure whether to go for the stage or wait for tomorrow but when the rain falls I have a super feeling normally in the cold weather,' an emotional Groves said. 'It's my first ever solo win and it's a Tour stage so it's pretty incredible. 'There's so much pressure at the Tour. Having won in the Giro and won in the Vuelta all I ever get asked is if am I good enough to win in the Tour and now I've shown them.' Groves' first career Tour stage win was a third of this race for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team but the first since stage two, with their previous two winners Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel since lost to injury and illness. Stage 20 was likely earmarked for Classics specialist Van der Poel but Groves demonstrated his class as not just a sprinter but an all-rounder, as he looked among the strongest riders on the day's punchy climbs through the Jura hills. Fourteen teams started the day without a win in this Tour so a furious fight for the breakaway was expected, but such was the pace that it was more a case of riders falling off the back than launching off the front of a rapidly-shrinking peloton. It was down to less than 50 when Tim Wellens attacked on the second-categorised climb, leading to 13 riders getting themselves clear before the peloton sat up with a little under 100km to go. A long-range attack from Harry Sweeny came to nothing as the groups came back together, but after a nasty crash for Ivan Romeo and local rider Romain Gregoire, only Groves, Stewart, Van den Broek were left with 20km left. When Groves attacked, Stewart and Van den Broek looked at each other, and in that moment the stage was decided. Pogacar mathematically secured the king of the mountains' polka dot jersey early on this stage, with yellow set to follow on Sunday provided he crosses the line in Paris.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Tour de France - Groves wins penultimate stage as Pogacar closes in on title defence
Update: Date: 16:05 BST Title: 'I suffered to the line and as a reward we get a Tour stage' Content: Stage winner Kaden Groves said: "There are so many emptions to win here. The team, we came here with so many different plans with Jasper [Philipsen] and Mathieu [van der Poel]. "In the end, I get my own opportunities and they haven't gone the right way. But today I had super legs. I just suffered to the line and as a reward we get a Tour stage. "The team gave me a free role in the last few days. We weren't sure if I should go for it today or wait until tomorrow. But when the rain falls, I always have a super feeling normally, in the cold weather. It's my first time winning solo - and it's in a Tour stage. Pretty incredible." Update: Date: 15:56 BST Title: General classification after stage 20 Content: Update: Date: 15:41 BST Title: Pogacar set to seal fourth Tour win after finishing unscathed Content: There was a crash as the peloton rolled through to the finish but Tadej Pogacar was unscathed so the reigning champion will seal his fourth Tour title on Sunday. The final day of the Tour is a processional stage, where traditionally the general classification leader is not challenged. As he crossed the line, Pogacar even got a pat on the back from his great rival Jonas Vingegaard. Update: Date: 15:29 BST Title: Stage 20 results Content: Update: Date: 15:25 BST Title: Post Content: Kaden Groves is sobbing as he's congratulated at the finish. Update: Date: 15:24 BST Title: Groves claims first Tour stage win Content: Kaden Groves taps his chest and holds his arms aloft as he completes the trilogy of winning a stage on each of the three Grand Tour races. Update: Date: 2km to go Title: Post Content: Alpecin-Deceuninck's team car is right next to Kaden Groves, giving him some motivation for the finis - as if any was needed. The Australian is set to become the Belgian team's third winner on this year's Tour, after Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel triumphed on the first two stages. Update: Date: 5km to go Title: O'Connor gives up the chase Content: The gap is now 48 seconds as Kaden Groves approaches Pontarlier. Back in the peloton, compatriot Ben O'Connor has nothing left and is forced to accept he will relinquish a top-10 GC spot to Jordan Jegat. They are more than six minutes back from Groves. Update: Date: 10km to go Title: Post Content: Kaden Groves is now 40 seconds clear of Frank van den Broek, with Jake Stewart having dropped back to be joined by Simone Velasco. Update: Date: 15km to go Title: Groves takes lead Content: Kaden Groves puts the pedal down, and Jake Stewart and Frank van den Broek just look at each other and let the Australian get away. He builds a 25-second lead by the time he reaches the 15km mark. Update: Date: 20km to go Title: Post Content: It's all change at the front again. Kaden Groves, Frank van den Broek and British rider Jake Stewart now lead the way. Update: Date: 22km to go Title: Ouch! - Nasty falls for Gregoire & Romeo Content: Romain Gregoire attacks on the downhill, before Ivan Romeo charges to the front. And as the pair go into a wet turn, Romeo hits the deck and slides into the kerb. A split-second after Romeo goes down, Gregoire follows suit, but at least he didn't get the double-whammy of slamming into the kerb too. The Frenchman gets back on his bike but Spanish youngster Romeo is hurt. Update: Date: 24km to go Title: Polka-dot jersey - Gregoire takes final climb Content: Romain Gregoire is first over the summit and Kaden Groves accelerates over the top, followed by Simone Velasco, Frank van den Broek and Jake Stewart. Update: Date: 25km to go Title: Post Content: The chaser groups have joined Harry Sweeny on the slopes. Ivan Romeo attacks but local favourite Romain Gregoire, being cheered on by fans on the climb, gets back to him. Update: Date: 27km to go Title: Sweeny & Groves survive scare Content: Hilly 184.2km stage, Nantua to Pontarlier The leading riders are onto the final categorised climb of this year's Tour outside Paris. It's a 2.5km ascent of Cote de Longeville, which has an average gradient of 5.5%. Harry Sweeny and Kaden Groves slip on the wet climb but the Australian pair somehow manage to stay upright. Update: Date: 30km to go Title: Post Content: Pascal Eenkhoorn, Romain Gregoire, Frank van den Broek, Kaden Groves and Jake Stewart have closed to within 15 seconds of Harry Sweeny. Jordan Jegat's group is 25 seconds further back, with Matteo Jorgenson and Tim Wellens on the charge behind them. Update: Date: 35km to go Title: Post Content: The chase group is down to five, including British rider Jake Stewart, and there's now four groups along the road between stage leader Harry Sweeny and the peloton. It's all going off. Update: Date: 40km to go Title: Post Content: Ben O'Connor is pulling the bunch with Jayco AlUla team-mate Mauro Schmid in a bid to stop Jordan Jegat taking a top-10 GC spot off him. Update: Date: 45km to go Title: Post Content: The rain is coming down again, with Harry Sweeny leading by 40 seconds. The gap to the bunch is now up to 5mins 15secs. Update: Date: 48km to go Title: Vingegaard needs new bike Content: More than four minutes back in the peloton, Jonas Vingegaard is racing back after stopping to take a new bike. That gap means Jordan Jegat, who is now in the chase group, has gone above Ben O'Connor in the virtual GC standings.
