Big adrenalin’ propels Pogacar to Tour de France stage and 100th career win

ROUEN, France: Tadej Pogacar blew past his rivals in an “explosive” finish to take Tour de France stage four at Rouen on Tuesday and claim his 100th professional victory.

“That was really pure, classic Tour-de-France-style explosive,” said an elated Pogacar.

The win did not quite bring him the overall lead. Dutch powerhouse Mathieu van der Poel finished second to keep the yellow jersey.

Pogacar attacked on an incline to the line to finish just ahead of Van der Poel with Jonas Vingegaard third.

It was the 26-year-old Slovenian’s 18th Tour de France stage win as he seeks a fourth overall triumph on the Tour.

“There was big adrenalin and a big field of contenders,” Pogacar said.

Fans were treated to another Pogacar-Vingegaard head-to-head duel as five hills made the final 40km a roller-coaster.

Van der Poel also entered the fray and kept the overall lead he took from Alpecin teammate Jasper Philipsen, who quit the Tour injured after a nasty fall on Monday.

“Jasper needs to recover, and I hope he understands how hard I tried to win for him today,” Van der Poel said.

On the day’s final real climb, Pogacar dropped all his rivals with only Vingegaard offering a real fight.

But the big Dutch rider and the slender Dane both came back at Pogacar, making him fight all the way to the line in a thunderous finale.

The same trio top the overall standings, with Pogacar second and Vingegaard in third.

Van der Poel took the overall lead on stage two but risks losing it on Wednesday’s time trial.

“I should be happy to have the jersey again,” said Van der Poel. “I was surrounded by climbers out there you know.”

“Tadej was stronger and it’s as simple as that.”

Unlike the opening three stages, there was hardly a puff of wind