Jonas Vingegaard on verge of Tour de France title after blowing away Tadej Pogacar again on incredible day

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) emulated his compatriot Bjarne Riis in 1996 with a remarkable solo victory at Hautacam in the Pyrenees to strengthen his vice-like grip on the yellow jersey in Stage 18 of the Tour de France. The 25-year-old cracked Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) with the help of Belgian teammate Wout van Aert after the indefatigable green jersey’s latest display of dominance in a breakaway that almost went the distance in the enthralling 143.2km ride through the Pyrenees.

Ad/> Pogacar, the reigning two-time champion, crashed on the descent of the Col de Spandelles – only for Vingegaard to sit up and wait for his rival to return to the fold in an amazing show of sportsmanship. The pair then agreed on a ceasefire for the remainder of the technical descent before resuming hostilities on the final major climb of the race.

Tour de FranceVingegaard waits for Pogacar after crash in 'incredible' sporting moment4 HOURS AGO On the punishing slog to Hautacam, Vingegaard was able to lean on the support of teammates Tiesj Benoot and Sepp Kuss as the two best riders in this year’s Tour dropped Britain’s Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and closed in on the remaining three riders up the road. And just as Kuss peeled off with five kilometres remaining, Van Aert – in that trio alongside Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Dani Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) – was able to take up the slack.

On his national Belgium Day, Van Aert buried himself on the front for Vingegaard before the elastic finally snapped with just over four kilometres remaining and Pogacar all but conceded the Tour. Stage 18 as it happened — Vingegaard poised to win Tour, sporting gesture applauded Vingegaard rode clear to the delight of the tens of