Incredible: Pogacar after a sensational time trial before Tour victory

The 21-year-old won the battle against the clock over 36,2 kilometers from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles on Saturday after a furious ride, leaving Roglic 1:56 minutes behind. Pogacar now goes into the final stage to Paris with a lead of 59 seconds, where the yellow jersey is traditionally no longer challenged. "I think I am dreaming. I don't know when I'll understand it," said Pogacar, who was completely exhausted but overjoyed after his triumphant ride.

This brought back memories of the exciting tour finale in 1989, when Greg Lemond caught Laurent Fignon in the final individual time trial and won the tour with an eight-second lead. The impossible made possible Who would have thought? Roglic was the big favorite, having already won four time trials on major tours in his career. But the otherwise cool ex-ski jumper apparently lost his nerve. He lost time kilometer after kilometer, but nothing worked on the final climb. At the finish, Roglic collapsed to the ground, his big dream shattered.

Primoz Roglic was devastated. © APA/afp / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Pogacar only needed 36,2:55 minutes for the 55 kilometers with the violent climbing and was even 1:21 minutes faster than Roglic's teammate Tom Dumoulin and the Australian Richie Porte, who moved up to third place overall. It was also the youngster's third stage victory in the 2021 Tour. It was his first participation in the Tour of France.

Last year, Pogacar had already amazed at the Vuelta with three stage wins and third place overall. At that time, Roglic was still triumphant. “I have to finish the work,” Roglic said before the mountain time trial. Pogacar goes all out It got really exciting. After just a few kilometers, Roglic had lost twelve seconds to his young rival. After 20 kilometers the gap had grown to 28 seconds. And that in the flat part of the route, where Roglic was clearly the favourite. On the final climb there was no stopping Pogacar.

This means Pogacar also wins the mountain jersey and of course the white jersey for the best young rider. The green jersey can hardly be taken away from Irishman Sam Bennett with a 55-point lead over former world champion Peter Sagan. This marks the end of an era; the Bora Hansgrohe captain has worn the Maillot Vert seven times in the last eight years. The only interruption was his disqualification in 2017.

The 21st and final stage starts in Mantes-la-Jolie and ends after 122 kilometers on the Champs Élysées. There is likely to be a mass sprint there again. Due to the increasing number of corona infections, only 5000 spectators are allowed in the finish area.

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Incredible: Pogacar after a sensational time trial before Tour victory

Sensation at the Tour de France: The young Slovenian Tadej Pogacar completely unexpectedly took the yellow jersey from his previously confident compatriot Primoz Roglic in the mountain time trial on the penultimate day and is on the verge of overall victory.

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