DHis worst is over. The Pyrenees fell behind the professional players of the Tour de France in the final stage. The 18th section from Pau to Luz Ardiden, which is more than 129.7 kilometers, started work again. This is the challenger’s last chance to get Tadej Pogacar (UAE), the leader of the overall standings, into trouble again. But just like on the royal stage of the 108th Tour de France the day before, Pogácar became the leader of the ring in a confrontation in the mountains.
He won the third victory of this tournament in a completely outstanding way, ahead of Jonas-Visma and Richard Karapas (Ineos-Grenadiers). The yellow jersey can no longer be taken from him in the remaining three stages. He leads Vingegaard by 5:45 minutes. Only a fall or something similar can make him win the second tournament. “But you never know,” the 22-year-old Pogacar said at the finish. “There are still three days, but it looks good.” With his success in Luz Ardiden, he also won the polka dot jersey of the best climber, and the white of the best young professional player was also reserved for him. Wilco Kelderman from the German team Bora-hansgrohe rose to sixth place in the overall standings and finally ranked ninth.
Mo. -Priest at 4 pm; Sa. – and so.18:00
After 77 kilometers, the riders are looking forward to the first big stage of the day: the 2115-meter-high Tourmalet, which nourishes the myth of the Tour de France more than any other mountain. It was discovered by the Tour de France in 1910. It was your entrance to the mountains, which was still partly on an unpaved road. Professionals don’t have to climb Tourmalet on the donkey trail this time, but it hasn’t become steeper either. The uphill is 17 kilometers, with an average slope of 7.3%.
Pogacar shines in the serpentine
The two drivers who are no longer important in the overall standings are the first to reach the top, the Frenchmen Pierre Latour (Total Energies) and David Gaudu (FDJ-Groupama). Latour won the mountain classification, and he conquered the giants of the Pyrenees at an average speed of 21.2 kilometers per hour. A wonderful and wonderful achievement. One minute later, the popular field was led by the still invincible British team Ineos Grenadiers for a long time.
For the Colombian Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), who ranked second in the overall standings for several days, Tourmalet is the end of all dreams of getting on the podium in Paris. He backed up and had to be escorted by two teammates. Because it is so beautiful, the route planner added a mountain as a reenactment until Luz Ardiden, a 13.3 km long and 7.4% steepness test to the rider’s lungs and willpower.
Ineos is still setting the pace. Just like in the best times, the express train under the steam. The last escaped were quickly collected. With five and a half kilometers to the end, Pogacar sent his last assistant, Rafal Majka, to the front line. Then, after walking another two kilometers, the boss personally stepped forward. There were only five people left in a team of fifteen people. Tadej Pogacar, Richard Carapaz, Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) and Enric Mas (Movistar). The last few kilometers of Luz Ardiden is a spectacular serpentine carousel. Pogacar made it his stage. When Maas crossed the finish line 700 meters, he fought back easily and loosely, flying past him, surpassing him and the others.
So the worst is over. This Friday there is a 207 kilometers long, but there is also a friendly flat stage. Mourenx from Libourne near Bordeaux is on the show. Classification drivers will not be particularly interested in them. For them, after the three difficult stages in the Pyrenees, their driving is active and relaxed. You will feel at ease and leave the excitement to the sprint team, who must make sure that no one out of control wins the stage. Mark Cavendish will be particularly interested. He can celebrate his fifth stage victory in Libourne’s tour and surpass the great Eddy Merckx in the number of daily victories on the tour. For Cavendish, this will be 35th. If he does not succeed, then after Saturday’s time trial, he has a second chance to participate in the Tour Finals in Paris on Sunday. There, Tadej Pogacar may wear a lot of jerseys.
