Vingegaard breaks Pogacar to win stage and all but seal Tour de France glory

Tadej Pogacar’s hopes of dethroning Jonas Vingegaard as Tour de France leader were extinguished after the final mountain stage in the Pyrenees, in which the Dane increased his overall lead with only three stages of this year’s race remaining.

As on the Col du Granon, Pogacar lost contact with Vingegaard halfway up the final climb, after a ferocious turn of pace from his Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert distanced the Slovenian. Vingegaard rode ahead to claim his second stage win, while Pogacar came across the finish line over a minute later.

The Tour’s last day in the mountains, before it turns and begins the journey north towards Paris, brought more stifling heat and plenty of suffering. One of those to suffer most was Pogacar, who finished the stage with ripped shorts after crashing on the descent of the penultimate climb.

Once again, the leading duo transcended their peers and went head to head on the narrow climb of the Col de Spandelles, the penultimate ascent of the day. Pogacar’s accelerations were matched by Vingegaard’s doggedness, but more drama was to come on the descent.

The Slovenian, trying to exert even greater pressure, forced the pace and saw the race leader’s back wheel slide out on one bend, before Vingegaard recovered to stay upright. But moments later, it was Pogacar who overcooked a left hand bend and ended up sprawled in the gravel at the side of the road.

As Pogacar got to his feet, Vingegaard dropped his pace and freewheeled down the climb, until the defending champion regained his composure. When Pogacar drew back alongside, the pair shook hands, in acknowledgement of the Dane’s sportsmanship.

Ahead Van Aert led the final breakaway with Thibaut Pinot and Geraint Thomas’s Ineos Grenadiers