
Tour de France: Pogacar demolishes rivals with devastating stage 12 win in Pyrenees
Pas de suspense, the French would say, and after the Slovenian's eighth career stage win in the Pyrenees, Vingegaard is scrambling to sustain a meaningful challenge. If Pogacar had been scared when crashing in Toulouse, 24 hours earlier, he showed no ill effects as he dealt a lethal blow to Vingegaard's aspirations under a fierce Pyrenean sun.
'I feel at the best moment of my career,' he said. 'I'm riding in the rainbow jersey, I ride with an amazing team, so it's like a fairytale for me. I think once this fire goes out, I will probably decline in performance but I'd say that now is the peak of my career, and I'll try to hold it for as long as I can.'
He did admit to being anxious prior to the stage however. 'I was nervous at the start, a little bit cranky maybe,' Pogacar said. 'There was the role of 2022, when I lost the Tour here [at Hautacam]. I lost it that day and I guess I was really motivated.'
Burned by Pogacar, Vingegaard is looking over his shoulder at those hot on his heels, including the Scottish climber Oscar Onley, who was fifth at Hautacam and is sustaining his challenge in sixth overall. The Dane has lost time to his Slovenian rival in the long time trial and in the Tour's first summit finish. From here, it appears unlikely that he will be able to mount a challenge for the yellow jersey.
There was more than a little questioning of his Visma-Lease a Bike team's tactics, after Vingegaard arrived at the foot of the final climb alone and surrounded by UAE Emirates riders. Long gone was Matteo Jorgenson, who had started the stage fifth overall but fell back on the Col du Soulor. Nor was there any sign of Simon Yates, winner on Puy de Sancy, but now unable to help his leader.
Pogacar's decisive move came at the foot of the 13km ascent after he was set up by his Ecuadorian teammate Jhonatan Narváez. Initially, Vingegaard kept the defending champion in sight, the gap hovering at a handful of seconds, but as the pursuit wore on, Pogacar cruised clear. Emmanuel Macron briefly joined Christian Prudhomme in the race director's car and the French president was treated to a ringside seat as Pogacar powered up the slopes.
Further down the mountain, Ben Healy was toiling up the climb, eventually losing the best part of 14 minutes to the Slovenian. In furnace conditions, Healy's overall leadership had wilted on the exposed climb of the Col du Soulor, where Remco Evenepoel also suffered and lost ground.
The morning after Pogacar's crash on the approach to Toulouse, the polemics over the peloton's decision to wait for the Slovenian continued. In the end, however, it was an irrelevance. The show of sportsmanship from Healy and Vingegaard was not lost on Demi Vollering, whose crash while leading the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, after which the peloton did not look back, effectively cost her the race. 'So kind of the bunch not to use this crash of Tadej Pogacar to take time on him,' she posted on Instagram. 'Guess men are a bit more kind.'
It also was a mournful convoy that entered the Pyrenees, the morning after a promising talent had been lost to a high-speed crash, following the death of young Italian Samuele Privitera, who was killed on Wednesday while racing in the Giro delle Valle d'Aosta.
According to reports in the Italian media, the 19-year-old crashed as the peloton was riding downhill at 70kph. He is understood to have fallen and hit the iron gate of a house, losing his helmet during the impact and suffering a cardiac arrest. Thursday's second stage of the Giro delle Valle d'Aosta was cancelled.
The Italian was riding for the Hagens Berman Jayco development team, a feeder outfit for Jayco AlUla, currently riding in the Tour. In tribute, there was a minute's applause at the start of stage 12 in Auch. Axel Merckx, son of Eddy and manager of the Hagens Berman team, said that the rider's loss was 'devastating beyond words.'
Friday's stage 13 time trial, from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes is unlikely to change the current narrative, although Evenepoel will be keen to bounce back and exploit any further weakness on the part of Vingegaard. Pogacar however, is expected to increase his overall lead.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gossip: Sarmiento wants Brighton exit
Ecuador winger Jeremy Sarmiento, 23, is ready to leave Brighton this summer and attracting interest from South America, but wants to remain in Europe. (Athletic - subscription required), externalMeanwhile, Toulouse have opened talks with Brighton over 19-year-old Malian midfielder Malick Yalcouye. (Fabrizio Romano), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport


BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gossip: Clarets keen on Johnstone to replace Trafford
Burnley want English goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 32, from Wolves as they look to replace the outgoing James Trafford, who has joined Manchester City. (Sun), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport


The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Transfer news live: Liverpool target Isak after Diaz deal, Arsenal want Eze, Man Utd latest
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs striking major deals as the summer transfer window nears its final month. Liverpool have signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £79m deal having beaten off interest from Newcastle to secure his signature. The Reds have also agreed to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich which could challenge the resolve of Newcastle who are holding firm in their valuation of Alexander Isak. Isak has requested to 'explore his options' away from the club with a move to Liverpool seemingly the likeliest destination as the Premier League champions aim to strengthen their forward line. Arsenal have completed the signing of Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, closing out a deal worth £63m for the forward who was unveiled as a new Gunner during their pre-season match against Newcastle on Sunday. The Gunners have also confirmed the signing of Cristhian Mosquera in defence and have their sights on Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze. Elsewhere, Manchester United have completed the signing of Bryan Mbeumo who joins Matheus Cunha in Ruben Amorim's new-look attack though the manager is still hopeful of securing a No.9 before the start of the season. Marcus Rashford has completed a loan move to Barcelona while Jadon Sancho is drawing interest from Juventus as the club also focus on outgoings. Meanwhile, Chelsea have their sights on a Dutch duo of Xavi Simons and centre-back Jorrel Hato. Arsenal ramp up bid for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze Arsenal are aiming to swiftly move to secure Crystal Palace 's Eberechi Eze now that the deal for Sporting 's Viktor Gyokeres is complete. Mikel Arteta 's side are Eze's top choice, as has previously been reported by The Independent, and those close to the player are confident a deal will be done in the next few weeks. Arsenal are hoping to agree a fee that comes to £60m, rather than the reported £68m clause, although on terms that are also amenable to Palace. Although there has not yet been any formal contact between the two clubs, the suggestions are that both will be flexible, amid good relations between the two boardrooms. Mike Jones28 July 2025 07:23 Arsenal complete Viktor Gyokeres signing Arsenal have completed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, for a final fee of €63m (£55m) with a further €10m to potentially be paid in add-ons (totalling £64m). The 27-year-old has signed a five-year contract. The purchase marks the end of an 18-month hunt for a number-nine from Arsenal, who have been insistent on signing a goalscorer for the 'here and now'. Gyokeres' arrival also marks the end of a hard period of negotiations with Sporting, who were insistent on more achievable add-ons. At one point, the deal dragged on and stalled over a potential add-on of €5m. Viktor Gyokeres signs five-year deal with Arsenal worth up to £64m The deal brings an end to Arsenal's lengthy wait for a number nine – and prolonged courtship of the Swede Miguel Delaney28 July 2025 07:22 Man Utd told Ollie Watkins is 'not for sale' after initial approach Manchester United have been firmly rebuffed by Aston Villa after an informal inquiry over a possible move for Ollie Watkins. United made the inquiry on Thursday evening but were told that Watkins 'is not for sale'. Watkins is just one of a few strikers United have looked at along with others including Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. With a valuation of around £60m, Watkins is one of the cheaper options United are exploring and has proven Premier League quality. If they do pursue a deal then it will be difficult to convince Villa to part ways with their man. Mike Jones28 July 2025 07:22 Liverpool accept €75m Luis Diaz bid from Bayern Munich Liverpool have accepted a €75m bid from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz, who asked to leave Anfield and is now set to join the German champions. The Colombian winger, who is currently in Tokyo with Liverpool on their pre-season tour, will leave on Sunday or Monday to complete the formalities of his move. Liverpool had long insisted Diaz was not for sale but reluctantly agreed to his request to go. Liverpool accept €75m Luis Diaz bid from Bayern Munich Richard Jolly 28 July 2025 07:20