Pogacar Dominates as Tour Enters the Pyrenees
The Tour de France has become Tadej Pogacar’s race. His dominance in the mountains has left previous rivals struggling to match his pace. Remarkably, Pogacar has also been a strong contender in the Classics this season—an unusual feat in modern cycling. He continues to make history, securing stage wins at a rate that even Mark Cavendish would admire. With a lead exceeding four minutes, the question remains: can Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel challenge him?
The race now heads deeper into the Pyrenees on this middle Saturday. Could a breakaway succeed? Realistically, no rider appears strong enough to escape Pogacar’s control. As he stated: “It’s the Tour—you can’t hold back when there’s a chance for victory. You never know when it might be your last day.”
The route features legendary climbs: Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, and Col de Peyresourde, finishing at a ski station that has seen triumphs from greats such as Federico Bahamontes, Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, and Robert Millar (now Philippa York). With four major ascents, this stage offers key points in the mountains classification. The winner will likely be a strong climber with no overall ambitions, such as Spain’s Enric Mas or Austria’s Felix Gall.
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