Tadej Pogacar Extends Lead with Plateau de Beille Triumph

Tadej Pogacar strengthened his bid to reclaim the Tour de France title with a commanding performance in the Pyrenees, clinching back-to-back stage wins. On stage 14, the Slovenian star soloed to victory, and on stage 15, he extended his lead further with a dominant ascent to Plateau de Beille, leaving Jonas Vingegaard trailing by over a minute and securing his 14th career stage win. With these victories, Pogacar now holds a formidable advantage in the general classification.

Vingegaard, last year’s runner-up, sits three minutes and nine seconds behind while Remco Evenepoel follows at a distance of five minutes and nine seconds. The stage 15 route, featuring multiple grueling climbs including a hors categorie finish, tested riders with over 4,800 meters of elevation gain, representing a significant challenge. Despite typically struggling in hot conditions, Pogacar managed to respond to Vingegaard’s aggressive tactics by UAE Team Emirates and maintained his dominance.

The Slovenian’s adeptness in mountainous terrains and strategic awareness have solidified his position as the race heads towards its conclusion. Meanwhile, British sprinter Mark Cavendish narrowly made the time cut-off, keeping alive his hopes for additional stage wins as he approaches the twilight of his illustrious Tour de France career. Pogacar’s commanding lead heading into the rest day underscores his current form and sets a daunting task for his rivals in the final stages of the Tour.

His performance not only reaffirms his status as a dominant force in cycling but also highlights his determination to reclaim cycling’s most prestigious title.