On the day after he overtook his rivals at Hautacam, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) brought another dominant performance to Peyragudes.
He was already a winner at the ski resort in 2022, and now again the Slovenian 3-time winner of the Tour de France dominated the uphill time trial held on the same slopes, matching his record at La (Super) Planche des Belles Filles, where he also won an ITT (2020) and a road stage (2022).
Pogacar brings his tally to 21 Tour stage wins, with 9 of these successes coming in the Pyrenees. He’s also reigned in the last six finishes atop category 1 or HC climbs. In the overall standings, he claimed his 46th Maillot Jaune and pushed his lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to 4’07’’ while Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) had another tough day and now trails by 7’24’’. The peloton remains in the Pyrenees to face a very different challenge on Saturday, with four major ascents en route to Luchon-Superbagnères.
The day had some sad images as well. Perhaps for the first time ever for him, Evenepol was passed as he neared the finish line by his rival, Jonas Vingegaard.
Kicking of the stage there was some concern among riders about avoiding elimination. Fortunately, the time limits were raised to 40% on this occasion instead of the 33% initially planned.
Plapp goes hard
Matteo Vercher sets an initial benchmark time (30’01’’) that was quickly beaten by Jordi Meeus (29’32’’), and then by Roel van Sintmaartensdijk (29’12’’). The race then entered a different phase with the arrival of young climber Lennert Van Eetvelt, the first rider to break the 28-minute barrier (27’49’’).
The Lotto rider then ceded the hot seat to Luke Plapp, who combined the qualities of a
rouleur and a climber, which he had already demonstrated in Paris-Nice in 2024 (6th). Reaching the top of the final ramp with a time of 24’58” (26.2 km/h), the Australian champion took a comfortable lead in the provisional standings.
Roglic took the hot seat, Pogacar took it all
On the hunt for KOM points, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) was having a good day. The French youngster only trailed by 9’’ halfway through the ascent but he faltered on the final gradients and crossed the line with a gap of 23’’. Adam Yates also trailed by 4’’ at the 2nd intermediate checkpoint (km 7.6) and 17’’ on the line.
As the GC contenders set off, Plapp’s lead was under threat. He resisted Matteo Jorgenson (+5’’) but Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) edged him out of the lead. The Slovenian proved to be the third strongest man of the day, ahead of his teammate Florian Lipowitz, 36 seconds behind him.
Ahead, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered another strong performance: 23’00’’ (28.4 km/h). Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was his closest rival (+36’’), crossing the line just before Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), who had another tough day (12th, +2’39’’).
