Pogacar breaks Alpe d’Huez record and strengthens his lead in the Tour de France
Alpes d’Huez – France, July 25 / WAM / Slovenian Tadi Pogačar, cyclist of the “Emirates-XRG” team, strengthened his lead in the general standings of the Tour de France, after “Friday” won the nineteenth stage that concluded at the summit of “Alpes d’Huez”, recording the fastest time in the history of climbing the mountain, two stages before the end of the race in Paris.
Pogačar achieved his fifth victory in the current edition of the Tour, after reducing the three-minute gap with the lead group, and launched a decisive attack 12 kilometers before the finish line, before taking the lead 800 meters from the end, and finishing the ascent in a time of 35 minutes and 26 seconds, breaking the record for this famous hill.
Pogacar became the second rider in the history of the Tour de France to win a stage that ends at the top of Alpe d’Huez while wearing the yellow jersey. He also extended the gap at the top of the general standings to more than seven minutes, bringing him close to equaling the record by winning his fifth title in the race.
The stage witnessed a distinguished team performance from the Emirates Team “Emirates-XRG”, which succeeded in reducing the gap with the escape group despite the absence of the American Brandon McNulty and the suffering of a number of riders from illness, while Tim Villens, Florian Vermeersch and Nils Polit played an important role in chasing the leaders, before the British Adam Yates provided decisive support to Pogacar during the final ascent.
Mexican Isaac del Toro, Pogacar’s teammate, also strengthened his lead in the ranking of the best young cyclist by maintaining the white jersey, after finishing the stage in seventh place, while maintaining third place in the overall standings before the final mountain stage.
Pogacar said after the victory: Winning on the summit of Alpe d’Huez is a wonderful feeling, and the crowd atmosphere was exceptional throughout the climb. This victory was achieved thanks to the team’s collective work, and I am very happy with this victory.
He added: I deal with the race stage by stage, and the next stage will be the most difficult in the Tour, and I hope to celebrate the yellow jersey in Paris.
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