Pogacar wins the stage ahead of Vingegaard, who is guaranteed the Tour

Tadej Pogačar won the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, with a high ranking in Le Markstein, ahead of the Austrian Felix Gall and the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, which, in the absence of a triumphant walk down the Champs-Élysées this Sunday, is guaranteed a second straight tour. It is the eleventh stage victory for the Slovenian in the gala round, the second in this edition, in which, like last year, he will finish second on the podium, without being able to match the Dane, who is equal to him in the number of final victories. The third will be his British partner Adam Yateswho will thus add his first major podium, after finishing fourth at the 2016 Tour and at the 2021 Giro d’Italia.

Spanish carlos rodriguezthe victim of a spectacular fall in the descent of the first port of the day, he was unable to hold on to the overall fourth place he would have taken Simon Yates, which entered the group of favorites. The Ineos cyclist stayed at the finish line for 52 seconds and saved the fifth place that his compatriot was threatening bilbao hairwhich will be the sixth in Paris.

moved stage

The last mountain stage of the Tour entered the Vosges with great enthusiasm. With still cold feet, the Ballon d’Alsace suddenly appeared, in which Carlos Rodríguez and the American took part Sepp Kuss. The man from Granada received a good blow to the face and elbow, but continued in the race after a visit to the medical car, as did the gregarious Vingegaard.

A group of ten drivers was formed under the control of the yellow shirt group. Pogačar did not want to go to Paris without another stage win, nor did Vingegaard miss the opportunity to seal his second Tour by raising his hands on the prestigious stage. Among the fugitives, a restless Italian Giulio Ciccone, already the king of the mountains leading to Ballon d’Alsace, Croix des Moinats (2nd) and Col de la Schlucht (3rd). Since Franco Pellizotti in 2009, the Italian cyclist has not worn a shirt with red dots. Previously, this honor went to Chiapucci, in 1992.

In Petit Ballon (1st, 9.3 km to 8.1) the Frenchman attacked forward Pinot, motivated in his country for a single day of retirement. He opened up a gap and crossed the top in the lead, Barguil and Harper chasing after a few seconds, and the group of favorites in 1.20 minutes, with Vingegaard’s Jumbo in the lead. The United Arab Emirates guarded Pogacar and Adam Yates, their two podium spots, with the leading men keeping an eye on Carlos Rodríguez and Simon Yates.

The last port of the Tour 2023, the Col de Platzerwasel (1a, 7.1 km to 8.4) filtered out the strongest main body. Pogačar took the initiative and took Vingegaard and the insatiable Felix Gall at the wheel. They went over the top together, with the Yates brothers close behind and Rodríguez in trouble. Pogačar wanted the stage, but he had Yates behind him trying to secure third place on the podium. Nothing was at stake for Vingegaard but the desire to win at Le Markstein, and Simon Yates was in contention to dislodge Rodríguez from fourth. Gall tried to score another win, but was run over Pogačar, the best in the sprint. A final fifth place smelled behind Bilbao, but Carlos Rodríguez arrived in time. Tour is condemned.

The Tour de France ends this Sunday with the duel of the twenty-first and last stage between Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines and Paris, the process of honoring the winner 110th edition and recognition to all runners who completed three weeks of competition.