(Le Markstein) LE Tadej Pogačar narrowly edged defending champion Jonas Vingegaard in the penultimate stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, but the Dane is virtually guaranteed to win the Great Loop.
Vingegaard remained in control by seven minutes and 29 seconds ahead of Pogačar, the big winner in 2020 and 2021.
He should be crowned on Sunday at the end of a stage before any protocol, at the Champs-Élysées.
Pogačar obtained a second stage victory this year, at this 110th edition of the most prestigious cycling race.
Vingegaard has, however, built up a considerable lead in the Alps.
“I really enjoyed wrestling with Tadej,” Vingegaard said.
Pogacar crashed in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race in April, then required surgery for a broken wrist. It’s hard to know how much that affected his Tour de France performance.
“Today I finally felt like myself again,” commented Pogacar. It was great to feel good and to win the stage, after several days of suffering. »
Saturday’s stage was a 133.5 kilometer stage starting in Belfort. The 3600 meter ascent was strenuous for many runners.
The young Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez, who remained hopeful of taking third position from Adam Yates, fell in a bend at the 33rd kilometer.
He re-entered the race, albeit bloodied in the face, arm and leg.
American Sepp Kuss also needed medical help after a hard fall, his second since the start of the Tour.
Frenchman David Gaudu seemed to struggle after falling during the descent of the Petit Ballon, 1163 meters high.
The first attack came from Belgian Victor Campenaerts, who had the most combative rider’s jersey for a second day in a row.
At the Col de la Schluct, the Italian Giulio Ciccone celebrated his title of king of the mountains of the event.
“I have to thank all my teammates,” Ciccone said. We’ve done a tremendous job of implementing our plan well. »
Three Frenchmen including Thibaut Pinot, who is from the region, were among five cyclists who upped the pace by mounting the Petit ballon.
Pinot raced alone six kilometers from the summit, aware of the presence of a large partisan crowd. He arrived there 33 seconds before his pursuers and a minute and a half before the peloton, which included Vingegaard and Pogačar.
Pogačar went into attacking mode six kilometers from the top of the Platzerwasel pass, closely followed by Vingegaard.
They were joined by Felix Gall and the Yates brothers — Simon and Adam, a teammate of Pogačar.
The Slovenian attacked again with 2.9 kilometers to go — once again Vingegaard was close behind.
With 250 meters to go, Pogacar has gained new momentum.
Vingegaard overtook him, but a last effort from Pogacar allowed him to win the stage.
