Tadej Pogacar, the 25-year-old Slovenian cyclist from UAE Team Emirates, claimed a decisive victory in the 14th stage of the 2024 Tour de France on Saturday, July 13. The stage, a grueling 151.9 km mountain route from Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, featured two high-category climbs, including the legendary Col du Tourmalet.Pogacar launched a powerful attack with approximately 4.6 kilometers to go, leaving his rivals unable to respond. He crossed the finish line 39 seconds ahead of his main competitor, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), with Remco Evenepoel finishing third, 1:10 behind the stage winner.This victory has significantly reshaped the general classification. Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by 1:57 minutes, with Evenepoel dropping to third place, 2:22 minutes behind the yellow jersey. The win marks Pogacar’s second stage victory in this Tour and his 13th career Tour de France stage win.The stage showcased the strength of Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates, with teammates Pavel Sivakov, Joao Almeida, and particularly Adam Yates playing crucial roles. Yates’ attack, reportedly on Pogacar’s instructions, helped set up the decisive move.The Tour continues on Sunday with the 15th stage, a challenging 198-kilometer route featuring four first-category climbs and a finish on the Plateau de Beille. This stage is expected to be another crucial battleground in the fight for the yellow jersey before Monday’s rest day.
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar won Stage 14 of the Tour de France with a powerful attack in the final kilometers.
- Pogacar now leads Jonas Vingegaard by 1:57 minutes and Remco Evenepoel by 2:22 minutes in the general classification.
- The next stage in the Pyrenees is expected to be another crucial day for the yellow jersey contenders.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported time gaps.
Some sources state Pogacar finished 39 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, while others report a 0:39 or 39-minute lead.
Given the context, the 39-second gap appears to be the correct information.
