The TdF leader’s lead melts: Pogacar puts Vingegaard at bay on Vulkan’s arrival

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Jonas Vingegaard loses some of his lead over Tadej Pogacar on stage 9 of the Tour de France, but heads into the first rest day as leader. The day’s mountain finish victory on the legendary Puy de Dôme was secured by Canada’s Michael Woods as a breakaway.

Three days after his stage victory in the Pyrenees, Tadej Pogacar won a few seconds more than last year’s winner Jonas Vingegaard in the battle for the Maillot yellow. The Dane, riding in yellow, was the only one of the top overall riders to remain on Pogacar’s rear wheel as the Slovenian launched one of his dreaded attacks on the final climb 1.5km from the line.

But the 2020 and 2021 Tour champion ultimately proved the stronger of the two big rivals on the steep slopes with gradients of up to 18 percent. To the finish on the dormant volcano, Pogacar was able to reduce his gap to Vingegaard in the general classification from 25 to 17 seconds. Former leader Jai Hindley from Australia is in third place already 2:40 minutes behind.

Biggest success for Woods

Pogacar reached the finish as stage 13. More than eight minutes behind the day winner Michael Woods. The Canadian belonged to a breakaway group that originally consisted of 14 riders and eventually showed the greatest endurance. He was followed by Frenchman Pierre Latour, Slovenian Matej Mohoric and young American Matteo Jorgenson, who still led with 400m to go after a solo run of almost 50km. For Woods, it was the biggest success after winning a stage in the Vuelta in 2018 and 2020.

The tour’s first rest day is on Monday before the next day’s hilly 10th stage over 167.2km from Vulcana to Issoire. The waves of the Massif Central provide the perfect terrain for escapes. (SDA)

Source : Blick