Pogacar’s all but sealed success
TOUR DE FRANCE Stage 8 Oyonnax > Le Grand-bornand 151km, Mountain
DEFENDING champion Tadej Pogacar has the Tour de France at his mercy as he claimed the overall leader’s yellow jersey on the first day in the Alps.
The Slovenian, 22, produced a vintage ride yesterday as his rivals crumbled on the eighth stage.
Pogacar rode away from Richard Carapaz on the penultimate climb of the 151km stage from Oyonnax to Le Grand-bornand to deliver a crushing blow.
And injuries caught up with Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, putting them out of the running.
Roglic, last year’s runner-up, and 2018 champion Thomas were distanced early on and now have zero chance of a podium finish in Paris after crashes in the first days of racing.
There is growing speculation that the Slovenian could now choose to leave the race on tomorow’s rest day to refocus on the Olympics.
Dylan Teuns took a fine solo victory – but Pogacar was fourth and now leads Belgium star Wout van Aert by one minute and 48 seconds in the general classification race.
Pogacar said. “The start was super hard, there were riders everywhere, but I felt good in this weather, it feels great.
“I thought they would show more. Now we are in yellow and we are prepared to defend as we showed we are a super-strong team.”
UAE-TEAM Emirates rider Pogacar attacked out of a reduced peloton with just over 30km remaining in an extraordinary demonstration of his power, punching his chest in celebration as he crossed the line.
Ion Izagirre was second, 44 seconds behind Teuns, with Michael Woods third.
But Pogacar should now just need to avoid any major mishaps to secure a second consecutive title.
“Everybody will fight until the last day but I think Tadej will successfully defend his jersey until the end,” said Belgian Teuns.