Tour de France: Pogacar in front of the fourth triumph – Lipowitz wants to fulfill dream

Even tour dominator Tadej Pogacar were written in the face of the three-week draft egg on France’s streets. “Every year we say that was the hardest tour. But this year it is a different level,” said the tired Slovenian after the last stage before the grand finale on Sunday in Paris. “But I enjoyed her because I had good legs.” The fourth triumph at the Tour de France is practically unthinkable to the defending champion.

Pogacar also had everything under control on the 20th stage. 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.

Pogacar’s teammate Nils Politt firmly believes that there will be a triumphal trip for his captain in the French capital. “Taking four minutes onto the final stage is comfortable and very, very nice,” said the ARD Cologne. “Today it was again a difficult piece of work. It was very hard from the start, especially with the weather conditions. I am happy to be at the finish at be safe.”

After three hard tours of the tour, only a fall or an illness can still prevent the man’s victory in yellow again. 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 celebrate the next great success in the French capital, like already in 2020, 2021 and 2024. At the award ceremony at the Champs-élysées, Lipowitz will most likely be on the podium.

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.

“The three weeks were super hard. I would never have expected the podium. “Tomorrow we will do everything that will stay that way. But I’m very confident.”

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. The 26-year-old Australian won on the hilly stage ahead of Frank van den Broek from the Netherlands and his compatriot Pascal Eenkhoorn.

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.