Tour de France: Pogacar in front of the fourth tour triumph – Lipowitz third

Dominator Tadej Pogacar also had everything under control on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France. The fourth tour triumph is practically unthinkable to the defending champion. The 26-year-old Slovenian reached the goal in Pontarlier alongside Germany’s young star Florian Lipowitz with the main field. The pouring rain at the beginning and at the end of the 184.2 kilometer long and hilly daily section near the Swiss border made it anything but pleasant for the professionals. Now Paris is in sight for the peloton.

After three hard weeks on the streets of France, only a fall or an illness can still prevent the man’s victory in yellow. In the overall ranking, the overpowering Pogacar has a clear lead of 4:24 minutes on his permanent rival Jonas Vingegaard.

Vingegaard accepts the dominance of his rival

The Dane had already recognized the new dominance of Pogacar after the last Alpine stage up to winter sports La Plagne: “To be honest, he was the strongest driver, so he also deserves to win. Sometimes you just have to accept it, and I now accept that too.”

Pogacar now counts the remaining hours until he can finally climb the cycling throne at the award ceremony in the French capital as already 2020, 2021 and 2024. Lipowitz will most likely be on the podium at the award for the Champs-Élysées.

The 24-year old Schwabe defended his third place on 20th stage and the white jersey of the best young professional. In the overall classification, the former biathlete continues 1:03 minutes before the fourth -placed Oscar ONLEY from Great Britain. It would be Lipowitz’s greatest success in his young cycling career.

Lipowitz clads enthusiastically

Lipowitz could climb the tour platform on the first German cyclist since Andreas Klöden in 2006. The two-time tour run is enthusiastic about the young vertical starter. “Lipowitz has a rosy future ahead of him,” said the 50-year-old monkey clod in the “Bild” newspaper. “He seems to have a huge engine and doesn’t break.”

Kaden Groves won the day’s victory in Pontalier. After 184.2 hilly kilometers from Nantua to Pontarlier ahead of Frank van den Broek from the Netherlands and his compatriot Pascal Eenkhoorn, the 26-year-old Australian won.

Montmartre crossing at the final in Paris

On Sunday the Tour of France ends with a spectacular finale in Paris. 50 years after the first arrival on the Champs-élysées, there is a decisive change this year. For the anniversary, the tour planners installed three crossings of the hilly district of Montmartre in front of the final sprint on the famous boulevard. The road bike race of the Olympic Games last year served as a model. After 132.5 kilometers, drivers of an escape group could steal the show at the final near the Arc de Triomphe.