Shortly before the double: Pogacar untouchable in the living room

In his living room in the hinterland of Monaco, dominator Tadej Pogacar was once again untouchable and is on the verge of overall victory in the Tour de France.

July 20, 2024

From: dpa

This would mean that the Slovenian would achieve the historic double of victories at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, which was last achieved by the now deceased icon Marco Pantani in 1998.

Not far from his adopted home of Monaco, Pogacar was anything but merciful on Saturday and took victory on the penultimate stage to the Col de la Couillole ahead of his great rival Jonas Vingegaard. The 25-year-old celebrated his fifth stage win in this year's Tour, increasing his tally to 16 victories. In the overall ranking, he is more than five minutes ahead of Vingegaard.

Pogacar (right) congratulates Carapaz on winning the mountain classification. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

However, he will have to do without the jersey of the best mountain pro, which Pogacar also held for a long time. The coveted white jersey with the red dots was secured on Saturday by the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, who came third in the stage. The Olympic champion only has to reach the finish in the time trial on Sunday.

Stage in the training area

Overall, it would be Pogacar's third Tour victory. This puts him on a par with Greg LeMond. Record winners with five victories each are Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain. Lance Armstrong's seven victories were revoked due to doping.

In May, Pogacar triumphed at the Giro, finishing almost ten minutes ahead of second-placed Colombian Daniel Martinez. For a long time, there was a question mark over how the exceptional rider would cope with the strain. Pogacar answered this with performance, winning two difficult mountain finishes in the Pyrenees and one in the Alps.

Jonas Vingegaard held on for a long time. © APA/afp / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

After his fourth stage win the day before, Pogacar had already announced that he wanted to enjoy the climb through the Maritime Alps, which included four ascents. "This is my training area, I know every mountain very, very well," said Pogacar. The Dane Vingegaard had also given up his last hope of overall victory and wanted to concentrate on securing second place.

No excitement like in 1989

The 33,7-kilometer final time trial is likely to be a pure triumph for Pogacar. Given his lead, he could even afford a defect. As far as anyone can tell, there will be no drama like in 1989, when the Tour last ended with an individual time trial.

Remco Evenepoel had to let it be demolished. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Back then, LeMond went into the race against the clock in Paris 50 seconds behind leader Laurent Fignon. The American left nothing to chance, riding with a triathlon attachment on his handlebars and a time trial helmet, while the Frenchman raced through the streets of the French capital with his blond hair flowing. In the end, LeMond was eight seconds ahead of Fignon and celebrated the narrowest Tour victory in history.