Tadej Pogacar (UAE) won this Wednesday the 17th stage of the Tour de France, showing himself in a spectacular sprint to Jonas Vingegor (Jambo) in the Alto de Peiragoudes (1580m), which has ramps with 16% slope in the last meters. The Slovenian, the winner of the last two editions of the race, did not win time on the track, but thanks to bonuses (10 s for 1st and 6 s for 2nd), he reduced the gap to the Dane by four seconds, now 2:18.
In the 129.7 km run with three classifications of the 1st category mountain prize in the Pyrenees, “Pogy” attacked only once, on the top of Val Louron Azet, but Wingegaard reacted well and they went to the goal line together. . American Brandon McNulty (UAE) accompanied them for many kilometers, finishing in 3rd place. Fellow Pogacara got ahead of them both and set an impressive pace on the last two mountains, to the point where all of the race leader’s teammates took off with over 20km to go. In the last few meters he stayed behind to watch the one-on-one between Pogacar and Vingegor.
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), the only Portuguese in the competition, arrived within 20 minutes of the first duet and kept 60th overall, 2 hours 27 minutes 28 seconds out of the yellow jersey.
This Thursday the 18th stage takes place again in the Pyrenees: 143.2 km between Lourdes and Otacam (1520 m), which has three special category mountain tests, the last one at the finish line.
“I can still win”
“I gave everything. I know that I need to win, there is no other way. I can still win the Tour,” Pogacar said. “I would have liked to have won the stage, but the final ramp was in favor of Pogacar, who deserved to win. I don’t want to think that I’ve already won the Tour. We go day after day,” Wingegaard said.
“I gave everything. I know that I need to win, there is no other way. I can still win the Tour,” Pogacar said. “I would have liked to have won the stage, but the final ramp was in favor of Pogacar, who deserved to win. I don’t want to think that I’ve already won the Tour. We go day after day,” Wingegaard said.
Author: Octavio Lopez
Source: CM Jornal
