Tadej Pogacar Triumphs over Jonas Vingegaard in Stage Six of Tour de France with Thrilling Finish

Tadej Pogacar showcased an impressive performance in stage six of the Tour de France, launching a breathtaking attack during the final climb to Cauterets-Cambasque. Surging ahead of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar secured a remarkable victory.

This remarkable comeback from Pogacar came after losing over a minute to Vingegaard on the first day in the Pyrenees. As a result, Pogacar now stands second overall in the general classification, trailing Vingegaard by 25 seconds.

With his triumph, Vingegaard claimed the coveted yellow jersey from Australia’s Jai Hindley, who slipped to third place in the overall GC standings. Hindley struggled during the penultimate climb up the iconic Col du Tourmalet and ultimately finished in sixth position.

Pogacar’s dominant performance left Hindley two minutes and 39 seconds behind him, in the company of Britain’s Simon Yates and Spanish rider Carlos Rodriguez.

Several British riders, including Yates, his brother Adam, and Tom Pidcock, managed to secure top 10 positions in the general classification. This accomplishment followed a grueling day that involved a 144.9km race from Tarbes to the challenging summit finish at Cauterets-Cambasque.

Stage six witnessed a sensational display by Pogacar, setting the stage for a potentially epic battle between him and Vingegaard over the remaining 15 stages of this prestigious cycling event.

“It’s not about revenge, but winning feels great, especially after regaining some lost time,” expressed Pogacar. He continued, “I feel relieved now, and my condition has significantly improved. Yesterday, Jonas showed an incredible performance, and when they began to exert pressure on the Tourmalet, I thought, ‘If it’s going to be a repeat of yesterday, we might as well go home.’ Fortunately, I had strong legs today, managed to keep up on the Tourmalet, and when the right moment arrived, I launched my attack. It’s a huge relief. I would say the gap is almost perfect now, and I anticipate an intense battle until the final stage.”

Previously, Pogacar struggled with the effects of a prolonged injury break, leading to a significant time loss against Vingegaard and dropping to sixth place overall. During the ascent of the Tourmalet, Jumbo-Visma increased the pace to allow Vingegaard to attack, resulting in a fragmented peloton. At that moment, Vingegaard seemed to employ similar tactics to Pogacar’s earlier approach.

However, Pogacar skillfully resisted Vingegaard’s attack near the summit of the 17.1km climb, closely tailing his opponent until unleashing an unstoppable surge of his own, 2.8km from the finish line. Accelerating rapidly, Pogacar gradually widened the gap to 7 and then 10 seconds, eventually reducing his arrears by half as he crossed the finish line, creating a finely balanced race situation.

The next stage on Friday covers a 169.9km route from Mont-de-Marsan to Bordeaux, featuring an anticipated sprint finish. This presents an opportunity for Mark Cavendish to potentially establish the outright record for stage wins, which he currently shares with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx, both at 34 victories.

Stage Six Results:

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) – 3hrs 54mins 27secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tour de France stage victory

More about Tour de France stage victory

• Tour de France Official Website
• Tadej Pogacar – UAE Team Emirates
• Jonas Vingegaard – Team Jumbo-Visma
• Tour de France Stage Six Results
• Col du Tourmalet