It’s been a Tour de France that has shown records matched (and hopefully eclipsed), and today, Tadej Pogacar made his own little bit of history by becoming the first rider ever to win back to back summit finishes in the yellow jersey
After yesterday’s success on the Col du Portet, the UAE Team Emirates leader also saw success today in Luz Ardiden, coming first over the Col du Tourmalet which came close to the halfway point.
The big names in the race came to fore on the final climb, 13.4 km at 7.5% average gradient where a sustained pace from Rafal Majka narrowed down the group. Pogačar made a move at -3.1 km, taking only Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Enric Mas (Movistar) with him. The quintet arrived in the last kilometre together before Pogačar made his move on the last ramp to arrive with a handful of seconds over his rivals.
The Slovenian consolidates his yellow jersey (5’45” up on Jonas Vingegaard, 2nd) and the white jersey of best youngster (Vingegaard at 5’45”), as well as jumping to the top of the mountain classification (107 points , Wout Poels is second with 29 points behind).
“The stage was very tough, already on the Tourmalet the pace was high,” said Pogačar at the finish. “I concentrated and was waiting for the last climb, where I gave my all. I’m speechless. After what happened yesterday I’m so happy to have done it again. As for Saturday’s time trial, I can say that time trials are a discipline in which I have always done quite well in, but it is also true that I can have a bad day, but I still have a good advantage in the standings, I am confident.”
Stage 19 features an undulating profile and will start from Mourenx and end in Libourne (207 km).
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