1 day ago
Key events
Tadej Pogacar extended his lead successful nan Tour de France pinch different imperious solo triumph connected nan 10th shape to Le Lioran, successful nan Massif Central. The Slovenian now leads nan Tour by much than a 3 and a half minutes from longtime rival Jonas Vingegaard, who wilted and mislaid much clip to nan different podium contenders.
Over a shape pinch 7 categorised climbs, including nan first class Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol and Col de Pertus successful nan last hr of racing, Pogacar again asserted himself complete nan peloton pinch a trademark onslaught connected nan penultimate climb.
His latest victory, however, was met pinch immoderate boos from nan roadside crowd, thing not seen since nan domineering days of Team Sky and Chris Froome, almost a decade ago.
Preamble
Yesterday’s shape 10 was nan title successful microcosm. There was a spot of nosy and games astatine nan front: Ben O’Connor, Javier Romo, Harold Tejada and astir notably Richard Carapaz were among those to attack. But UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Tadej Pogacar were ne'er little than firmly successful control, and nan relentless Slovenian applied nan coup de grâce in typically businesslike fashion.
Davide Piganzoli’s pace-setting for Jonas Vingegaard and Visma-Lease A Bike connected nan Col de Pertus was small much than cosplaying astatine being a squad that tin realistically situation nan overwhelming spot of UAE and Pogacar. Even nan guidance of nan fans astatine nan roadside was a neat summary: astir shouted nan 27-year-old Pogacar connected to much glory, while a number booed to definitive their dissatisfaction astatine his ongoing and seemingly endless dominance.
This being a “flat” shape (1,400m of climbing successful 161.3km), nan Pogacar statement tin beryllium near for different time and we tin immerse ourselves successful nan intrigue of nan points classification title – not to mention nan daily, self-contained play of what will hopefully beryllium a fierce conflict for nan stage.
The sprinters’ teams will beryllium wished not to fto a breakaway succeed, particularly Alpecin-Premier Tech for Jasper Philipsen, and NSN for Biniam Girmay – 2 accelerated men who are yet to triumph astatine this year’s Tour. But fixed his form, and each that activity to grind done nan mountains yesterday, it would beryllium nary astonishment for Tim Merlier to make it a hat-trick successful Nevers.
Neutralised rollout: 12.50 BST/13.50 CET
