Mohoric wins stage – Cavendish has to wait

“King Cav”, who had drawn level with cycling legend Eddy Merckx over the course of this tour, did not get a fifth chance in a mass final after Fougères, Châteauroux, Valence and Carcassonne, all of which he had previously won. The five-time overall winner Merckx had already put things into perspective: “You can’t compare it. I rode 2800 kilometers alone in the wind, Cavendish six seconds.” Before the start of the 19th stage, the two had hugged each other warmly.

But on Friday the hour of the breakaway came. After days of torment in the Pyrenees, this time it was Mohoric who came out on top with a courageous attack from the group. Christophe Laporte from France and the Dane Casper Pedersen made it onto the day's podium. Despite the difficult week, the field rushed through France at high speed and crossed the finish line much earlier than the organizers had expected. Mohoric won his second stage of this Tour, his compatriot Tadej Pogacar won three more stages.

This year's tour is also characterized by early exits in favor of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. After the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who had already put an end to the race after losing the yellow jersey in the Alps, and the Italian Vincenzo Nibali on the second rest day, Miguel Angel Lopez and Michael Woods also left the race. The Colombian and the Canadian want to regenerate before the trip to Japan and after completing the ordeal in the Pyrenees, they no longer saw any point in completing two flat stages and a time trial. Pogacar remains safe Yellow-wearer Pogacar will definitely make it to Paris, going into the time trial on Saturday with a big lead. If nothing happens to the strong Slovenian on the final weekend, like in 2020, he will not only win the winner's jersey but also win the white jersey of the best young professional and the polka dot jersey of the best mountaineer. In the fight against the clock, it's all about who can accompany Pogacar to the podium in the center of Paris on Sunday. On the way to defending his title: Tadej Pogacar. © APA/afp / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

On the final stretch to Paris, veteran Cavendish's record hunt will once again be the main focus. If the Brit wins on the legendary Champs-Élysées, he will not only receive the green jersey of the best sprinter, but also, with 35 daily successes, the Tour stage record, previously held by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx for several decades with 34 victories. The last chance also awaits Germany's veteran Greipel.

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Mohoric wins stage – Cavendish has to wait

The sprint veterans came away empty-handed in the 19th stage of the Tour de France and now have to put all their hopes on the big finale in Paris. On the 207 kilometers from Mourenx to Libourne, the Slovenian Matej Mohoric won instead from a 20-strong breakaway group on Friday.

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