Saturday 17th July 2021
Pogacar before second tour success
Time trial ends with a surprise winner
The last highlight is missing, but Tadej Pogacar can no longer be ousted as the overall winner of the 108th Tour de France. In the individual time trial, the Ventoux winner suddenly wins, while the Slovenian dominator does his duty. A German cycling great will soon end.
Tadej Pogacar is about to become the youngest double champion in the history of the Tour de France. In the decisive individual time trial of the 108th Tour of France, the only 22-year-old cycling prodigy was able to ride the 30.8 kilometers to Saint-Emilion without any risk. Pogacar finished eighth and easily defended his lead. “I’m so happy that it’s over,” said the Dominator shortly after the award ceremony.
When Pogacar rolled off the ramp as the last starter in Libourne at 5:19 p.m., the dominator of this year’s Grand Boucle was already wearing the yellow jersey. Before the penultimate stage he had a comfortable cushion of 5:45 minutes on his closest rival Jonas Vingegaard, who finished third in the fight against the clock. The only thing that Pogacar could have tasted the Maillot jaune on the trip through the wine region around Bordeaux was a serious fall or a defect, but he acted callous on the flat profile. Pogacar will probably cross the finish line in Paris by the longest distance since Vincenzo Nibali (7:52) in 2014.
After the “Tour d’Honneur”, in which the yellow jersey is traditionally no longer attacked, Pogacar will most likely make a name for himself in the history books – not only as the youngest two-time champion in the history of the most prestigious cycling race in the world, but also as another winner the mountain jersey and the white jersey of the best young professional.
The podium in Paris will be completed by the young Dane Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma / + 5:20) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos / + 7: 03) from Ecuador. The Belgian all-rounder Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who had already won double climbing on Mont Ventoux, surprisingly secured victory. “That means a lot to me. Winning a time trial in the Tour de France has always been on my bucket list,” said Van Aert.
Before the start of the stage, the most successful active German professional cyclist Andre Greipel announced that he would end his career after the season. For clear reasons: “Because I am 39 and have now done the whole thing for 18 years and compete against 20-year-olds. I understand that this is the end of it,” said the sprint oldie. Greipel, only known as “Gorilla” in the peloton, crossed the finish line 113th in his penultimate appearance on the big stage, his focus is on the final stage to Paris.
“He just drives another race”
Pogacar started his triumphal march with his first time trial success on the fifth section to Laval. Just two days later, the exceptional talent from the Upper Carniolan town of 6000 inhabitants, Komenda, slipped into the yellow jersey on the first Alpine stage after humiliating his hopeless rivals for the first time.
Just 24 hours later, experts like the legendary Eddy Merckx had already declared the tour to Pogacars to be decided. Because the defending champion’s motto, “Attack is simply the best defense”, was no match for anyone in the field at that time.
“He’s just driving a different race here. We have to make sure that we drive our own,” Carapaz, who was third overall, had already stated after the ninth leg. “The tour is over,” said the five-time tour champion Merckx – he was right. Only Vingegaard managed to drive away from Pogacar for a few minutes after an attack on the eleventh stage on Mont Ventoux – the only small pinprick remained.
The youngster controlled Vingegaard and the experienced Carapaz at will in the last two Pyrenees arrivals. And with a charisma that is second to none. Before his pursuers could even strike, Pogacar simply launched the attacks himself and manifested the yellow jersey.
On his Tour debut last year, Pogacar had catapulted himself into the limelight for the first time in a memorable mountain time trial and became the youngest champion of the Tour of France in 116 years. Pogacar started the penultimate stage 57 seconds behind compatriot Primoz Roglic and, completely surprisingly, snatched yellow from him at the Planche des Belles Filles. Now he’s wearing the jersey all the way back to Paris.
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