Tadej Pogacar closes in on third Tour de France crown after fifth stage victory

Tadej Pogacar could hardly help himself as he took his fifth stage victory of this year’s Tour de France, with a third overall crown all but sure to follow on Sunday.

Pogacar said he would be happy for a breakaway to win stage 20 from Nice to the Col de la Couillole, but Remco Evenepoel’s attempt to test Jonas Vingegaard’s grip on second place played into Pogacar’s hands and allowed him to stretch his overall advantage yet further to five minutes 14 seconds.

There may not be the usual ceremonial final stage into Paris this year as a 34km time trial between Monaco and Nice awaits on Sunday but the podium places feel set all the same, with Evenepoel’s deficit to Vingegaard now two minutes and 50 seconds.