After a two-man sprint between the favorites for the final victory, Tadej Pogacar proved to be the strongest in the last meters of the ascent of Peyragudes, in the Pyrenees, this Wednesday, July 20. The Slovenian won the 17th stage of the Tour de France. Jonas Vingegaard is still in the yellow jersey.
In the last difficulty of the day, the ascent to Peyragudes, the yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard did not let go of the wheels of his runner-up Tadej Pogacar, who had his teammate Brandon McNulty with him.
Even two against one, Jonas Vingegaard remained calm. The day before, Pogacar had tried to jostle the leader of the Tour de France, in vain. For this second stage in the Pyrenees, the Slovenian who clocked in at 2 min and 22 sec in the general classification will not have found anything to knock the Dane off his pedestal.
“I gave everything, I wanted this victory today”
” I knew that Tadej [Pogacar] would attack, he will attack every day and I will follow him every day Vingegaard announced the day before. The first game in the Pyrenees had allowed him to reassure himself for this third and final week of racing.
Even if Pogacar pockets his third stage victory since the start of the Tour, Vingegaard seems more and more able to win next Sunday in Paris. Pogacar, the reigning winner, only gained 4 seconds from Vingegaard, who has a 2 min 18 sec lead four days from the finish.
” I gave everything, I wanted this victory today. I felt confident. I remain optimistic, tomorrow will still be difficult “Commented Pogacar, who did not hesitate to thank his teammates.
Pogacar, however weakened by the morning package of his Polish teammate Rafal Majka, used the remaining strength of his team to harden the race and try to destabilize Vingegaard. Thursday, the 18th stage will include three hard climbs to reach Hautacam.