Tadej Pogacar continues to dominate the Tour de France, showcasing his exceptional prowess during the 15th stage towards the Plateau de Beille. The Slovenian cyclist, leading the UAE-Emirates team, launched a powerful attack 5 kilometers from the finish, creating significant gaps between him and his closest competitors. Jonas Vingegaard now trails by 3′09″, while Remco Evenepoel is 5′19″ behind.
Pogacar's performance has been nothing short of extraordinary, solidifying his lead in the general classification. His teammate, Joao Almeida, who is fourth overall, is already 10′54″ behind, highlighting Pogacar's dominance since the start of this year's race.
The general classification after the 15th stage is as follows: Tadej Pogacar leads with a time of 61h56′24″, followed by Jonas Vingegaard at 3′09″, and Remco Evenepoel at 5′19″. Other notable positions include Joao Almeida in fourth, Mikel Landa in fifth, and Carlos Rodriguez in sixth.
In addition to leading the general classification, Pogacar also tops the mountain classification with 77 points, ahead of Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. The points ranking sees Biniam Girmay in the lead with 363 points, followed by Jasper Philipsen and Bryan Coquard.
Pogacar's latest victory in the Pyrenees at the Plateau de Beille not only secured his 15th stage win but also increased his lead over Jonas Vingegaard by more than a minute. This performance has further cemented his position as the favorite to win the Tour de France.
Despite starting the stage with the intention of defending his jersey without attacking, Pogacar's competitive spirit took over. With the support of his UAE team, he managed to break away and secure a decisive victory. Adam Yates, seventh in the general classification, played a crucial role in Pogacar's success by launching an attack that Pogacar capitalized on.
Meanwhile, David Gaudu of Groupama FDJ had a notable performance, showing his strength by leading the breakaway and taking the lead in the Hourquette d'Ancizan. Unfortunately, Amaury Capiot of Arkéa - B&B Hôtels had to abandon the race due to severe pain following a fall.
Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel struggled to keep up with Pogacar's aggressive attack. Vingegaard finished 39 seconds behind, while Evenepoel lost 1 minute 10. This gap has allowed Vingegaard to move up to second place overall, just 25 seconds ahead of Evenepoel.
In the mountain classification, Pogacar has taken a significant lead over Jonas Abrahamsen, who failed to score any points during the 14th stage. Pogacar now has 20 points more than Abrahamsen, who has been relegated to third place behind Vingegaard.
- Joao Almeida, despite being Pogacar's teammate, finds himself significantly behind in the general classification, indicating the sheer dominance of Pogacar in this year's Tour de France.
- David Gaudu's performance in the Hourquette d'Ancizan highlights his determination and skill, even though he is not competing for the general classification.
- The struggles of Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel during Pogacar's attack underscore the Slovenian's superior form and strategy in the race.
- Amaury Capiot's abandonment due to injury is a reminder of the physical toll and challenges faced by riders in the Tour de France.
