Tadej Pogačar is poised to secure his fifth Tour de France title, leading the competition by six and a half minutes as the final stage approaches.
The Slovenian cyclist is on the brink of joining an elite group of five riders who have won the prestigious race five times.
The concluding stage will take place in Paris but has been shortened due to ongoing wildfires. Pogačar’s strong performance in the penultimate stage has placed him in a favorable position for achieving this historic milestone.
As he enters the final leg of the race, Pogačar holds a significant advantage over Belgian competitor Remco Evenepoel. Unless an unforeseen incident occurs, he will join the ranks of cycling legends such as Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault.
“I have had an excellent Tour. Some of our rivals faced unfortunate circumstances,” remarked Pogačar, referencing the withdrawal of his main competitor, Jonas Vingegaard, due to a crash. “We have successfully navigated the challenges with our team, and now only one final performance remains.”
The 20th stage was clinched by Richard Carapaz, marking his second victory in this year’s Tour and his third overall. The Ecuadorian cyclist made a decisive move to overtake Sepp Kuss just before the finish line, with Evenepoel also passing Kuss to take second place.
Unlike his aggressive strategy on the previous stage, Pogačar opted for a more conservative approach this time.
The challenging 171-kilometre alpine stage included three hors catégorie climbs, which are recognized as the toughest category, along with one category 1 climb. After three weeks of grueling competition, riders faced the demanding ascents of Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, and Col de Sarenne, as well as the category 1 climb of Col du Télégraphe, totaling 66 kilometers of strenuous climbing before arriving at Alpe d’Huez.
Carapaz’s performance secured him the polka-dot jersey, awarded to the best climber of the Tour. Pogačar’s group maintained a steady pace as Carapaz, Kuss, Spanish rider Juan Ayuso, and Australian Jai Hindley ascended the Galibier together.
Pogačar’s focus was on ensuring his UAE Team Emirates teammate, Isaac Del Toro, finished third overall, with Del Toro now over two minutes ahead of French cyclist Paul Seixas in fourth place. “It was a privilege to ride for Isaac today,” Pogačar commented, recalling how he had previously assisted Del Toro to a Stage 2 victory. “Crossing the finish line alongside him was unforgettable.”
Ayuso fell behind as Kuss, Hindley, and Carapaz, both former Giro d’Italia champions, engaged in a fierce battle during the Sarenne pass. “It was incredibly challenging,” Carapaz said. “Sepp was particularly difficult to overcome.”
In a tense moment nearing the end, Kuss nearly lost control of his bike when he miscalculated a turn, coming dangerously close to a roadside barrier but managing to stay upright with the help of some netting.
Carapaz took advantage of the situation to claim victory. “Winning here, especially in this unique jersey, is fantastic,” he stated. “I believe I deserve this win, having fought so hard throughout the Tour.”
Pogačar has achieved five stage wins in this year’s competition, totaling 26 in his career, indicating that he may need to participate in at least two more Tours to surpass Mark Cavendish’s record of 35 stage wins. Merckx and Hinault follow closely with 34 and 28 stage victories, respectively.
Looking ahead to the final stage, Pogačar indicated he might aim for another win. “I’ll assess how I feel tomorrow and avoid taking unnecessary risks,” he said. “However, if I have the energy and it’s safe, I will certainly aim for victory.”
The concluding stage will cover a shortened 89-kilometre route, featuring an uphill segment through the Montmartre district before concluding on the iconic Champs-Élysées. This alteration was made to alleviate pressure on emergency services responding to the wildfires in the south-west region of France.
