Pogacar’s Dominant Performance on Alpe d’Huez
Tadej Pogacar launched a solo attack from the base of Alpe d’Huez to secure victory in the 19th stage of the Tour de France. This win further extended his overall lead in the race. Despite being more than three minutes behind with approximately 7.5 miles remaining, Pogacar’s performance was described as one of his best.
Riding without a teammate for the final section of the climb, Pogacar managed to catch Richard Carapaz, an Ecuadorian rider, and Frenchman Lenny Martinez with nearly a mile left. He then surged ahead to claim his fifth stage win in this year’s race and his 26th overall career stage victory.
Pogacar expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, “It’s very cool to win up here.” He also highlighted the “crazy atmosphere” throughout the climb, acknowledging the support from the crowds. The Slovenian rider conquered Alpe d’Huez in 35 minutes and 29 seconds, a time reportedly more than a minute faster than a previous record.
The Battle on the Mountain
The stage saw intense competition, particularly among the leading riders. Carapaz, who had won the 18th stage, finished nine seconds behind Pogacar, while Martinez was six seconds back. American rider Sepp Kuss, who initially looked strong, faded in the closing stages and finished 1 minute and 14 seconds adrift.
The dynamic among the front-runners played a role in Pogacar’s ability to close the gap. As Pogacar gained ground, Carapaz, Kuss, and Martinez did not work together effectively to maintain their distance. Pogacar noted that the other riders were “playing against each other a bit so it helped me to catch up.”
At one point, with 6.8km remaining, Carapaz continued to attack, a move that some felt was inadvertently benefiting Pogacar, who was then 70 seconds behind. Earlier, at 10.5km to go, Pogacar was 2 minutes and 35 seconds behind the leaders, described as being chased by the “Terminator.”
Looking Ahead to the Final Stages
With his significant lead of 7 minutes and 11 seconds over Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings, and only two stages remaining, Pogacar is nearing a historic achievement. He is on the verge of joining an elite group of cyclists, including Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault, as a five-time Tour winner.
Barring any unforeseen incidents, the Slovenian cyclist is expected to be crowned champion when the race concludes on Sunday on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The Alpe d’Huez climb itself is renowned in cycling, rated as an HC mountain pass, which is the hardest category in the race. Fans, some of whom camped overnight, lined the route, creating a vibrant atmosphere with flags and flares.
The upcoming Saturday stage is a mammoth 106-mile Alpine route, featuring three HC climbs: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, and Col de Sarenne, along with a Category 1 climb up Col du Télégraphe, before a hilly finish back at Alpe d’Huez. Pogacar stated about the next stage, “Tomorrow is the Queen stage of the Tour. (It) is the hardest day of the Tour. We’ll follow our own plan, our own rhythm. We don’t care about anything else.”
Source: theguardian.com
Mason Reed
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