A fine solo break from Bob Jungels saw him become the first rider from Luxembourg to win a stage at the Tour de France since Andy Schleck in 2011. At one stage, it looked as though Thibaut Pinot might soar back as the French fans roared him on, but the Groupama–FDJ faded and eventually finished fourth. Tadej Pogacar looked typically lively in the closing stages to assert himself on his GC rivals.
Read more
Belgian superstar Wout van Aert powered to a second win in Stage 8 ahead of Michael Matthews and Tadej Pogacar after a gripping uphill dual in Lausanne. Third place for pugnacious Pogacar saw the Slovenian strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey despite taking a small tumble early on in the lumpy stage into Switzerland.
Read more
Tadej Pogacar doubled up on the brutal gravel ramp of La Super Planche des Belles Filles to strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey and deny rival Jonas Vingegaard at the death in Stage 7. The two strongest riders in the race went shoulder to shoulder and broke the heart of lone leader Lennard Kamna in the final 100m of an exhilarating finale to another pulsating stage on the Tour.
Read more
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar swapped white for yellow with an emphatic Stage 6 win in Longwy as outgoing race leader Wout van Aert put in a ride for the ages in a bold bid to achieve the impossible. Van Aert’s gutsy long-range breakaway attempt ended just 10km from the finish of the longest stage of the race, opening the door to the seventh stage win of Pogacar’s career.
Read more
Australian veteran Simon Clarke pipped fellow escapee Taco van der Hoorn in a pulsating photo finish to Stage 5 in Arenberg on a day of untold drama on the cobblestones of northern France. Wout van Aert retained the yellow jersey but Jumbo-Visma had a nightmare as Primoz Roglic conceded over two minutes to defending champion Tadej Pogacar.
Read more