(Taiwan) Tadej Pogacar took a giant step towards a third Tour de France title by winning another tough stage in the mountains on Friday.
The Slovenian now has a 5:03 lead over two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard with two stages remaining. Remco Evenepoel sits third overall, 7:01 behind Pogacar.
Pogacar launched an attack with about nine kilometres to go on a 16-kilometre climb at the Isola 2000 ski resort. Vingegaard was unable to keep up, as Pogacar was in pursuit of Matteo Jorgenson, Vingegaard’s team-mate at Jumbo Visma. The American led the lead group, with Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates behind him.
Carapaz and Yates were caught by Pogacar, leaving Jorgenson alone in the lead. He was also overtaken with two kilometers to go. Pogacar thus sped to a 15e career stage victory in the Tour de France.
After more than four hours in the saddle, Pogacar looked behind him one last time, but none of his rivals were visible.
He raised both arms in the air as he crossed the finish line. Jorgensen took second place, 21 seconds behind Pogacar, and Yates third, 40 seconds behind the winner.
PHOTO ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Tadej Pogacar marked his fourth stage victory by crossing the finish line.
Evenepoel took fifth place, ahead of Vingegaard, both 1:42 behind Pogacar.
Ontario’s Derek Gee took the 10e rank, at 3:27, while Quebecer Hugo Houle finished the event in 48e position.
Saturday, during the 20e stage, the cyclists will make three first category climbs, the last one to the summit of the Col de la Couillole.
The Tour de France will end on Sunday with a time trial from Monaco to Nice, rather than a stage in Paris, because of the Olympic Games.