photo credits @ Le Tour
One day after stamping his authority on stage 12 at Hautacam, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) doubled up with yet another dominant performance to Peyragudes. Already a winner at the ski resort in 2022, the Slovenian 3-time winner of the Tour de France dominated the uphill time trial held on the same slopes, matching his record at La Planche des Belles Filles, where he also won an ITT (2020) and a road stage (2022).
Pogacar brings his tally to 21 Tour stage wins, with 9 of these successes coming in the Pyrenees. He’s also dominated the last six finishes atop category 1 or HC climbs. As for the overall standings, he claims his 46th Maillot Jaune and pushes his lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to 4’07’’ while Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) had another tough day and now trails by 7’24’’. The peloton remain in the Pyrenees to face a very different challenge on Saturday, with four major ascents en route to Luchon-Superbagnères.
Earlier, Matteo Vercher set an initial benchmark of 30’01’’ that was quickly beaten by Jordi Meeus (29’32’’), followed by Roel van Sintmaartensdijk (29’12’’). The race then entered a different phase with the arrival of young climber Lennert Van Eetvelt, the first rider to break the 28-minute barrier (27’49’’).
The Lotto rider later ceded the hot seat to Luke Plapp, who reached the summit with a time of 24’58” (26.2 km/h), moving the Australian champion into the lead of the provisional standings.
Next, on a hunt for more KOM points, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) trailed by only 9’’ halfway through the ascent, but the French rider faltered on the final gradients, crossing the line with a gap of 23’’. The same for Adam Yates, who trailed by 4’’ at the 2nd intermediate checkpoint (km 7.6) and 17’’ on the line.
As the GC contenders set off, Plapp’s lead came under threat, with Roglic later edging him out of the hot seat.
However, the Slovenian was later dethroned by fellow countryman and race leader, Pogacar, who delivered the best time of 23’00’’ (28.4 km/h), while Vingegaard crossed the line ahead of Roglic by 36″ to claim second spot on the podium.
Meanwhile, Evenepoel had another tough day, finishing in 12th place at +2’39’’ in arrears.
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