Tadej Pogacar Shatters Record on Plateau de Beille, Strengthens Lead Over Vingegaard

On this national holiday, it's not just the bursts of the French army that are flying at full speed. On the Plateau de Beille (15.8 km at 7.9%) in the Pyrenees, the rocket Tadej Pogacar let go of his opponents one by one to win alone and further consolidate his lead over the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) with a gap of 3 minutes and 9 seconds. At the same time, he achieved the fastest ascent of the Pyrenean pass in history in 39′41′'.

This record was previously held by the cyclist Marco Pantani in 1998. That year, the Italian, who died in 2004 from edema, achieved the feat of winning both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. A feat never reproduced since, and which the leader of UAE Emirates would like to add to his already well-stocked list of achievements.

Last May, the double winner of the Tour de France won his first Giro by crushing the competition with six stage victories and nine minutes ahead of the second overall. For comparison, if Marco Pantani's performance was placed in the context of 2024, the Italian would have finished around 4th place this Sunday, just ahead of the Spaniard Mikel Landa, teammate of Remco Evenepoel who retains his third place in the general classification.

Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, episode 15. Before the rest day, the two Tour favorites engaged in a new battle. For once, it was the young Slovenian who dominated his elder.

Five kilometers from the finish at the top of the Plateau de Beille, the Little Cannibal of Komenda placed his counter to fly away in the highest percentages. He did not slow down in his efforts and no longer counted his pedal strokes.

Tadej Pogacar arrived 70 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard - without counting the ten seconds of bonuses. And almost three minutes ahead in the general classification. A decisive attack for his third success? The response will come this July 21, in Nice.