Tour de France: Pogacar before another overall victory

Tadej Pogacar is about to become the youngest double champion in the history of the Tour de France. The Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) meanwhile won the individual time trial on the 20th and penultimate stage of the 108th Tour.

In the decisive individual time trial of the 108th Tour of France, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar was able to drive without risk on the 30.8 kilometers to Saint-Emilion. The only 22-year-old cycling prodigy finished eighth and easily defended his lead. When Pogacar rolled off the ramp as the last starter in Libourne at 5:19 p.m., the yellow jersey could no longer be taken from the dominator of this year’s “Big Bow”.

Pogacar boiled again

Before the penultimate stage he had a comfortable cushion of 5:45 minutes on his closest rival Jonas Vingegaard, who finished third in the fight against the clock. Only a serious fall or a defect could have cost Pogacar the yellow jersey on the drive through the wine region around Bordeaux, but he acted hard on the flat profile.

Pogacar will probably cross the finish line in Paris by the longest distance since Vincenzo Nibali (7:52) in 2014. “I’m so happy that it’s over,” said the apparently exhausted Dominator shortly after the award ceremony. But he “enjoyed every kilometer, even if I suffered. It was super hot,” emphasized Pogacar with a slight sunburn on his nose.

Probably the youngest two-time champion of all time

After the “Tour d’Honneur”, in which the yellow jersey is traditionally no longer attacked, Pogacar will most likely make a name for himself in the history books – not only as the youngest two-time champion in the history of the most prestigious cycling race in the world, but also as another winner the mountain jersey and the white jersey of the best young professional. The podium in Paris will be completed by the young Dane Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma / + 5:20) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos / + 7: 03) from Ecuador.

The day’s victory in the individual time trial was secured on Saturday by Belgian all-rounder Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who had already won double climbing on Mont Ventoux: “That means a lot to me. Winning a time trial in the Tour de France was already there always on my bucket list. ”

Greipel finished as 113th – and at the end of his career

Before the start of the stage, the most successful active German professional cyclist, André Greipel, announced that he was going to end his career after the season: “Because I’m 39 and have now done the whole thing for 18 years and ride against 20-year-olds. I understand that it’s over now,” said the sprint oldie. Greipel, only known as “Gorilla” in the peloton, crossed the finish line 113th in his penultimate appearance on the big stage, his focus is on the final stage to Paris.

Rivals humiliated

Pogacar started his triumphal march with his first time trial success on the fifth section to Laval. Just two days later, the exceptional talent from the Oberkrainer 6,000-inhabitant nest Komenda slipped into the yellow jersey on the first stage of the Alps after humiliating his hopeless rivals for the first time. Just 24 hours later, experts like the legendary Eddy Merckx had declared the tour to be decided. Because the defending champion’s motto, “Attack is simply the best defense”, was no match for anyone in the field at that time.

Only Vingegaard puts a needle prick

“He’s just driving a different race here. We have to make sure that we drive our own,” Carapaz, who was third overall, had already stated after the ninth leg. “The tour is over,” said five-time Tour Champion Merckx, and he was right. Only Vingegaard managed to drive away from Pogacar for a few minutes after an attack on the eleventh stage on Mont Ventoux – the only small pinprick remained.

Set attacks yourself

The youngster controlled Vingegaard and the experienced Carapaz at the last two Pyrenees arrivals at will – and with a charisma that is second to none. Before his pursuers could even strike, Pogacar simply launched the attacks himself and manifested the yellow jersey.

On his Tour debut last year, he had catapulted himself into the limelight for the first time in a memorable mountain time trial and had become the youngest champion of the Tour of France in 116 years.

Pogacar started the penultimate stage 57 seconds behind compatriot Primoz Roglic and, completely surprisingly, snatched yellow from him at the Planche des Belles Filles. Now he’s wearing the jersey all the way back to Paris.

Ex-tour winner Froome suffers from behind

Meanwhile, four-time Tour winner Chris Froome sees himself as the winner despite being more than four hours behind the leaders. “It’s great for me to be here. I’m really looking forward to Paris. I suffered a lot. It was also very different for me than usual. Usually I suffer in the front, this time I suffer in the back,” said the 36-year-old old Briton on Saturday after the individual time trial on ARD.

Froome won the tour in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Since his brutal fall just before the 2019 Tour, the veteran has not reached his previous level.

Will Cavendish manage the sole stage record?

The 108th tour will end on Sunday with a 108.1 kilometer flat stage from Chatou to Paris. The yellow bearer is traditionally no longer attacked. The sprinters are under pressure. The Briton Mark Cavendish is aiming for his 35th win of the day and would be the sole record holder ahead of Belgium’s cycling legend Eddy Merckx.

Source: sportschau.de