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Tadej Pogačar put in a brave ride to take stage 6 of the Tour de France at the summit arrival in Cauteret Cambasque.
After a less than perfect Wednesday, the Slovenian champion reacted in the best possible way, winning in a duel with his main rival Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) for winning his 10th stage in career at the Grand Boucle (first in 2023 edition).
The stage (144,9 km), that included the climb of Col d’Aspin after 68 km and the Col du Tourmalet at -47 km to the arrival, was led in the key moments by Jumbo-Visma, which heavily selected the top riders group by setting a high pace thanks to the work by Wout Van Aert.
Pogačar pedalled closely to Vingegaard on Tourmalet, also when the Danish cyclist tried an attack, and he did the same on the final climb (16,2 km at 5,3%), where the Danish rider accelerated at -4,4 km to go.
With the duo leading the race (yellow jersey Jai Hindley was already dropped), Vingegaard could not take advantage on Pogačar, who controlled the rival and then, at -2,6 km, made a single winning acceleration: the Danish rider struggled and so UAE Team Emirates’ captain could pedal towards his success with 24” on his rival. Ninth place for Adam Yates (+2’39”).
Vingegaard is the new yellow jersey, Pogačar is 2nd at 25”.
Pogačar: “I feel a bit relieved and much better now that I won a stage and I took some time back in the general classification.
Yesterday I was a little bit worried, who wouldn’t have been? The display by Jonas yesterday was incredible and, when today he started pulling on the Tourmalet, I thought: ‘oh no, it’s gonna happen like yesterday’, we can pack our bags and go home’. But I managed to keep that pace and so the day turned in a good way.
This is my tenth stage victory at the Tour, I am coming to for Mark Cavendish! No, I’m joking obviously , but I am so happy.
Now the gap is almost closed, I feel it will be a big battle until the last stage.”
Stage 7 will give a rest to climbers: 169,9 km from Mont de Marsan to Bordeaux, with only one 4th category Kom.
Stage 6 results
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 3h54’27”
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +24”
3. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X) +1’22”
General classification after stage 6
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 26h10’44”
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +25”
3. Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe) +1’34”
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