Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates further extended his overall lead at the Tour de France, surpassing three minutes on Sunday, following a dominant consecutive stage victory in the Pyrenees. The Slovenian rider left his last rival behind with just five kilometers remaining after conquering five additional Pyrenean peaks. Jonas Vingegaard valiantly managed to secure second place, trailing by 1 minute and 8 seconds, while Remco Evenepoel finished third, lagging 2 minutes and 51 seconds behind on the day.
As Pogacar triumphantly crossed the finish line at the breathtaking Plateau de Beille, located deep within the Pyrenees, he celebrated his second consecutive mountaintop victory and his 14th Tour de France stage win at the young age of 25. The overall leader expressed his astonishment at Vingegaard and his team's performance.
"Jonas did most of the work," Pogacar remarked after Visma dominated the front of the peloton for most of the day. "With today being the 14th of July, one might have anticipated a French victory, but Visma pushed very hard." Pogacar admitted, "I wasn't certain I could maintain the pace, but this year I've adopted a different strategy, and it appears to be effective," as he enjoyed a candy bar.
The UAE Team leader's bold pursuit of both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in the same season seemed more attainable after securing his third stage win this year, significantly widening the gap. There are two arduous mountain stages remaining in the Alps, where the weather is expected to be much hotter, a condition Pogacar dislikes.
The final day will feature a challenging 34km individual time trial along the corniche between Monaco and Nice. Currently, Pogacar leads the two-time defending champion Vingegaard by 3 minutes and 9 seconds, with the young Belgian Remco Evenepoel in third place, trailing by 5 minutes and 19 seconds.
Evenepoel appeared satisfied with his performance, having aimed for the best young rider's jersey in his debut Tour de France, which he is currently well-positioned to achieve. "I realized it was a mistake to try and keep up with them when they accelerated. It was a race between the two of them," he explained. "I maintained my steady pace, and it was a good weekend for us." Evenepoel is third overall, five minutes ahead of Mikel Landa, and leads the young rider category by six minutes from Carlos Rodriguez.
Both Vingegaard and Evenepoel were involved in a severe crash in March, and it remains to be seen how their endurance will hold up in the third week. After Monday's rest day, the race will resume in the Alps, traditionally the decisive terrain of the Tour. Pogacar concurred on Sunday, "Only when I cross the finish line will I believe I have won," said the 2020 and 2021 champion.
The weekend crowds were well-behaved on Sunday. A roadside spectator who threw crisps at Pogacar and Vingegaard on Saturday was charged with violent behavior Sunday morning, after spending a night in custody to sober up. The Tour de France has also intensified protective measures to "limit health risks" with the reintroduction of face masks due to a resurgence of Covid-19. Monday is a rest day.
"We go into Monday with a big smile," said Pogacar. The fans watching roadside or from their armchairs likely left with a smile as well.
