Tadej Pogacar secured another stage win at the 2024 Tour de France, prevailing over Jonas Vingegaard at the Col de la Couillole on Saturday. This victory marks Pogacar’s fifth stage win of the month, solidifying his lead in the yellow jersey.
The penultimate stage of the Tour de France, a short but gruelling 133-kilometre route from Nice, featured three hard category 1 ascents. From the start, the pace was fierce, with multiple attacks and groups forming on the first ascent of Col de Braus. The peloton briefly regrouped over the top before the race split again on the descent.
The breakaway, which included Richard Carapaz, Enric Mas, and Wilco Kelderman, formed on the following climb and managed to build a four-minute lead. However, the peloton, driven by Soudal-QuickStep and others, began to reduce this advantage on the Col du Turini and further on the Col de la Colmiane.
As they approached the final climb up the Col de la Couillole, the breakaway was down to Carapaz and Mas. In the reduced yellow jersey group, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar stayed close. Remco Evenepoel attempted to attack twice but was countered both times, first by Vingegaard and then by Pogacar.
With 2.5 kilometres to go, Pogacar and Vingegaard caught Carapaz and Mas. The duo quickly distanced them, setting up a head-to-head battle in the final kilometre. Despite Vingegaard’s efforts to respond, Pogacar launched a decisive attack 150 metres from the line, crossing seven seconds ahead of the Dane.
“If you told me this before the Tour I would not have believed you,” Pogacar said, elated after his victory. “It’s out of this world actually. I’m so happy. (Five stages) is more than enough. One would be enough. Just the yellow jersey would be enough. But it is how it is, you don’t brake in cycling.”
Reflecting on the stage, Pogacar added, “I enjoyed [the stage] very much. It didn’t go as we planned, but I couldn’t be happier with that, another stage win. Just one more day … and tomorrow I think I’m going to enjoy it as well.”
Vingegaard, though finishing second, found solace in his performance. “Friday was one of my worst days on the bike. I was completely empty in the finale, but today it was very different,” he explained. “When Evenepoel attacked me the first time, I didn’t have any problems responding and so when he tried a second time, I thought I would go for it myself.”
Despite his efforts, Vingegaard admitted, “I was already on my limit, but you can always hope and that’s cycling, that’s how it is. I don’t blame him at all, I would probably have done the same.”
Remco Evenepoel, who finished fourth behind Carapaz, reflected on his team’s strategy. “We tried to put Vingegaard under pressure and see if his bad day [on stage 19] would continue. That was clearly not the case,” he said. “We gambled and lost, but I have nothing to regret and I’m pleased we were still able even to try and do this on the last mountain stage of the Tour.”
Looking ahead, Evenepoel acknowledged the challenge of competing against Pogacar and Vingegaard. “I went for it twice, but the guys in front of me are two ex-Tour winners with a lot more experience. Their engines are a lot bigger than mine. I think I still need a lot of specific training to be able to follow or attack them. There is a lot of work to be done to close that gap.”
Mark Cavendish, who managed to survive the last mountain stage, shared his emotions as he nears the end of his final Tour de France. “Hopefully, I’ll arrive at the end of my last Tour de France, the race that’s given me everything,” he said. “It’s something special. There’s all these people here, and I’ve had a brilliant group of boys with me. Thank you.” Cavendish celebrated with his teammates, recognising their support throughout his final Tour de France.
(Photo credit: Billy Ceusters)
2024 Tour de France Stage 20 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
