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 challenging climbs including the legendary Col du Tourmalet.Pogacar launched a powerful and unexpected attack with approximately 4.5 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, 2:22 minutes 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. 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, particularly Adam Yates, playing crucial roles. Yates’ attack helped set up Pogacar’s decisive move, creating confusion among their opponents.An unfortunate incident marred the stage when a spectator threw French fries at Pogacar during the climb to Pla d’Adet. The Cyclists’ Union (CPA) has announced it will take legal action against the spectator, according to its president, Adam Hamsen.The Tour continues on Sunday with the 15th stage, another challenging mountain route that is expected to be another crucial battleground in the fight for the yellow jersey. Despite the setback, Vingegaard remains optimistic, saying, ‘Tomorrow will be another day,’ and hoping to make a difference in the remaining stages of the race.
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar won Stage 14 of the Tour de France with a powerful attack in the final kilometers.
- Pogacar extended his overall lead to 1:57 minutes over Jonas Vingegaard and 2:22 minutes over Remco Evenepoel.
- A spectator threw French fries at riders during the stage, prompting potential legal action by the Cyclists’ Union.
- UAE Team Emirates demonstrated strong teamwork, particularly through Adam Yates’ role in setting up Pogacar’s attack.
Contradictionsđź‘ľThere is a slight discrepancy in the reported time gaps.
While most sources agree on Pogacar’s 1:57 lead over Vingegaard, the gap to Evenepoel is reported as both 2:22 and 2:23 in different articles.
