Tadej Pogacar, the 25-year-old Slovenian cycling sensation, has all but secured his third Tour de France victory with a dominant performance in the 20th stage on Saturday, July 20, 2024. The stage, a challenging 132.8 km mountain route from Nice to the summit of Col de la Couillole in the Alpes-Maritimes region, saw Pogacar showcase his exceptional climbing abilities.Pogacar launched a powerful attack in the final 100 meters, leaving his main rival Jonas Vingegaard unable to respond. He crossed the finish line 7 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, marking his fifth stage victory in this Tour and his 16th career Tour de France stage win.This victory has dramatically reshaped the general classification. Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by 5 minutes and 14 seconds, with Remco Evenepoel in third place, 8 minutes and 4 seconds behind the leader. Vingegaard, the defending champion, has conceded that the fight for first place is over, acknowledging Pogacar’s superior strength.Pogacar’s dominant performance in the mountains has effectively ended any suspense before the final stage. His impressive showing puts him on track for his third Tour de France victory and a historic Giro-Tour double, a feat not achieved since Marco Pantani in 1998.The Tour concludes on Sunday with a 33.7 km time trial from Monaco to Nice, replacing the traditional finish in Paris due to preparations for the Olympic Summer Games. While Pogacar’s victory seems assured, he remains cautious, stating, ‘Now, with this comfortable lead, I’ll see how my legs are and won’t take any risks.’
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar won the 20th stage of the Tour de France, his fifth stage victory in this year’s race.
- Pogacar extended his overall lead to 5 minutes and 14 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard.
- Barring unforeseen circumstances, Pogacar is set to win his third Tour de France and achieve the Giro-Tour double.
- The final stage is a 33.
7 km time trial from Monaco to Nice, replacing the traditional Paris finish.
