In a dramatic showdown among Tour de France favorites in the Cantal region, Jonas Vingegaard narrowly outpaced Tadej Pogacar on Wednesday's stage 11. The defending champion from Denmark deftly countered Pogacar's aggressive attacks, securing a stage victory with Remco Evenepoel finishing third, 25 seconds behind, and Primoz Roglic in fourth despite a late mishap.
While Vingegaard clinched the stage win, his strategic prowess also delivered a psychological blow in the ongoing duel with Pogacar, both former Tour winners. The intense battle unfolded dramatically as the riders ascended to the remote Le Lioran ski station at 1,242 meters, maintaining the top four standings without change.
Pogacar, 25, retains the overall lead with a 1-minute 06-second advantage over Belgian Evenepoel, while Vingegaard sits in third, trailing by 1 minute 14 seconds. Roglic, Pogacar's fellow countryman, follows in fourth place, trailing by 2 minutes 45 seconds.
For Vingegaard, the stage victory not only marked his first of this year's Tour but also underscored his resilience after overcoming injuries and a lengthy hospital stay earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Pogacar faces recalibration after his spirited attempts to distance rivals on challenging climbs near Clermont fell short.
Romain Bardet, a local favorite bidding farewell to his final Tour de France, received a heartfelt send-off from supporters at 'Virage Bardet,' reflecting on his notable career achievements including a second-place finish in the 2016 Tour and success at the world championships two years later.
ADD A COMMENT :