Tadej Pogacar Effectively Seals Second Straight Tour de France Victory
Tadej Pogacar Effectively Seals Second Straight Tour de France Victory
Wout van Aert won the time trial, but Pogacar's solid ride means he need only cross tomorrow's finish line with the peloton to win yellow.
Tadej Pogacar all but became champion of the 2021 Tour de France on Saturday as the UAE rider protected his large overall lead in the stage 20 time-trial, ahead of the traditionally ceremonial final run to Paris.
Wout Van Aert won the time trial, but defending champion Pogacar's solid ride means he need only cross the Champs-Elysees finish line with the peloton in Sunday's 21st, and final, stage to retain the fabled yellow jersey as winner of the world's greatest bike race.
Pogacar won three stages on his way to this dominant triumph in a manner reminiscent of former champions Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, strong in both the time-trials and the mountains.
He will also win the awards for best rider under-25 and the king of the mountains polka-dot jersey, a triple he also achieved on his debut last year.
The top three in the overall standings remained the same after the 30km run on a sizzling holiday Saturday as rowdy fans packed the roadsides all the way to the pretty Saint-Emilion vineyards.
Jumbo's Jonas Vingegaard goes into the final day run in second, while Ineos' Richard Carapaz is in third.
A second place for the Dutch team Jumbo is a triumph of sorts after their leader Primoz Roglic fell heavily early in the race. They also won three stages even though only four of the eight-rider team made it through to the final stage.
But a third place for British outfit Ineos, with no stage wins, bears a whiff of the end of their era after the 2020 failure was blamed on Egan Bernal's bad back. The British outfit went into this race with four co-leaders hoping to win an eighth title in ten years.
Related Content
- Bittersweet Victory: Jorgenson Amid Van Aert Crash In Dwars door Vlaanderen
Mar 27, 2024
- Van Aert Breaks Collarbone, Ribs In 2024 Dwars door Vlanderen Fall
Mar 27, 2024
- Matteo Jorgenson Wins 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen After Huge Crash
Mar 27, 2024
- Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024 Highlights: Matteo Jorgenson Celebrates Biggest Classic Win
Mar 27, 2024
- Wout Van Aert Tour Of Flanders Bid Ends With Dwars Door Vlaanderen Crash
Mar 27, 2024
- Wout Van Aert's Revenge? The Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024 Preview
Mar 25, 2024
- Tadej Pogacar Wins 2024 Tour Of Catalonia After Fourth Stage Victory
Mar 24, 2024
- Tadej Pogacar King Of Volta a Catalunya 2024
Mar 24, 2024
- Pogacar Soars In Catalunya, Bernal Climbs To Podium
Mar 23, 2024