Tadej Pogacar makes the next statement. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Next stage win: Pogacar extends lead

Tadej Pogacar launched one of his inimitable attacks against Jonas Vingegaard on the steep ramp shortly before the first mountain finish of the 111th Tour de France and celebrated an important partial victory against his long-time rival.

July 13, 2024

From: dpa/dl

In the next duel between the two professional cyclists, the overall leader in the yellow jersey won the day with a comfortable lead over the Danish defending champion. At the finish line in Pla d'Adet in the Pyrenees, the Slovenian crossed the finish line 39 seconds ahead of second-placed Vingegaard after a tough mountain ride.

The 25-year-old Pogacar finished the 151,9 kilometers on the 14th stage, which started in Pau on Saturday, 1:10 minutes ahead of Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian finished third. In the overall ranking, Pogacar now 1:57 minutes ahead of Vingegaard and 2:22 ahead of Evenepoel. The time trial world champion thus lost his second place.

Tadej Pogacar broke away 4,6 km from the finish. © APA/afp / THOMAS SAMSON

It was only 4,6 kilometers from the finish that Pogacar attacked Vingegaard. Little by little he gained valuable seconds on his competitors. Vingegaard visibly tried hard, but was unable to stay on the rear wheel.

A thrilling duel

Both exceptional riders have already had a number of duels in this year's tour. Pogacar pulled ahead of Vingegaard by a few seconds on the Col du Galibier. The reigning Tour champion, however, remained calm. In the days that followed, he countered Pogacar's attacks and increased the nervousness of the man in yellow with his defensive riding style. He complained, but Vingegaard defended his team's tactics. In the Le Lioran ski area, the 27-year-old even narrowly beat Pogacar and took the stage win.


The first of two Pyrenees crackers at the weekend featured two top-category mountain classifications. The Tour classic Col du Tourmalet alone was a tough one. The riders had to overcome an average gradient of just over seven percent over 19 kilometers. The tough finale on the Pla d'Adet included almost eight percent over just over ten kilometers.

Jonas Vingegaard had to admit defeat on the first Pyrenees stage. © ANSA / GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

Tom Pidcock was spared from the ordeal. However, to the chagrin of the one-time British Tour stage winner. His team announced shortly before the start of the stage that the 24-year-old was going home because of corona symptoms. His Ineos team was considered very cautious. Employees had recently been wearing masks. There are currently no set corona measures in place for the Tour. Several riders in the main field are said to be suffering from corona.

An even more demanding Pyrenees stage awaits on Sunday for the national holiday. The queen stage, starting in Loudenvielle and finishing on the Plateau de Beille, is considered the greatest challenge of this year's tour with more than 4800 meters of elevation and 197,7 kilometers.

Tour de France: 14th stage

Saint-Lary-Soulan/France (151,90 km), 13.7.2024:
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) – UAE Team Emirates 4:01:51 hrs; 2. Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen (Denmark) – Team Visma + 39 secs; 3. Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) – Soudal Quick-Step + 1:10 mins; 4. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spain) – Ineos Grenadiers + 1:19; 5. Giulio Ciccone (Italy) – Lidl-Trek + 1:23; 6. Santiago Buitrago Sanchez (Colombia) – Bahrain Victorious; 7. Adam Yates (Great Britain) – UAE Team Emirates; 8. Felix Gall (Austria) – AG2R La Mondiale + 1:26; 9. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) – Team Visma + 1:29; 10. Derek Gee (Canada) – Israel Prime Minister Tech


Overall individual ranking, status after the 14th stage:
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) – UAE Team Emirates 56:42:39 hrs; 2. Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen (Denmark) – Team Visma + 1:57 mins; 3. Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) – Soudal Quick-Step + 2:22; 4. Joao Almeida (Portugal) – UAE Team Emirates + 6:01; 5. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spain) – Ineos Grenadiers + 6:09; 6. Mikel Landa Meana (Spain) – Soudal Quick-Step + 7:17; 7. Adam Yates (Great Britain) – UAE Team Emirates + 8:32; 8. Giulio Ciccone (Italy) – Lidl-Trek + 9:09; 9. Derek Gee (Canada) – Israel-Premier Tech + 9:33; 10. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) – Team Visma + 10:35