Pogacar’s Dominance on Alpe d’Huez
Tadej Pogacar secured victory on stage 19 of the Tour de France, conquering Alpe d’Huez and further extending his lead. His ascent of the iconic climb was completed in 35 minutes and 29 seconds, a time reportedly more than a minute faster than a previous record.
Pogacar expressed his satisfaction, noting the “crazy atmosphere” throughout the climb. He credited his team for their support, stating he was “riding for my teammates today.” He also mentioned that hearing some riders were dropped after Felix Grossschartner set a strong pace early in the climb gave him confidence. Pogacar acknowledged having “good legs” in the first kilometre of Alpe d’Huez and committed to the top, with Adam Yates providing a morale boost.
The yellow jersey group, which included Pogacar, was initially 3 minutes and 45 seconds behind the breakaway. However, Pogacar steadily gained ground, closing the gap to 70 seconds and then 50 seconds as he picked off riders from the break. He ultimately caught up to and passed the leading riders, including Richard Carapaz, Lenny Martinez, and Sepp Kuss, who were reportedly not working together effectively.
Riders Experience the Alpe’s Atmosphere
The return of the Tour to Alpe d’Huez after a four-year absence brought with it a significant crowd presence, which many riders described as intense. Tobias Foss of Netcompany-Ineos, experiencing the climb for the first time, found it “very fun” and “extreme,” noting that his “eardrums were hurting a bit sometimes.” He highlighted the continuous cheering from fans, regardless of a rider’s position in the race.
Lewis Askey of NSN, who had previously watched the race on Alpe d’Huez, described riding it as “mental.” He observed the difficulty of navigating through the crowds, even half an hour after the leaders had passed. Michael Matthews of Jayco AlUla, part of the day’s significant breakaway, focused on enjoying the atmosphere once he reached the bottom of the Alpe. He found the experience “quite emotional,” especially after overcoming injuries in the past two years.
Matthews engaged with the crowd, using hand gestures to encourage their cheers. He noted the presence of many Australian flags and felt the support from fans worldwide. Robert Stannard of Bahrain-Victorious also found motivation from the public, stating that the fans made the effort feel less strenuous. He described reaching Alpe d’Huez in the Tour de France as “almost like a dream come true.”
Looking Ahead
The Tour de France will return to Alpe d’Huez for stage 20, though it will not ascend the 21 hairpins of the iconic climb, instead going via the Col de Sarenne. This follows a day where the crowds were described as “disorganised” in some sections, particularly around the leaders with 5.2km to go.
The intermediate sprint earlier in the stage saw Mads Pedersen secure points before falling back. The penultimate climb, Col d’Ornon, a category two ascent of 5.4km at an average of 6.4%, preceded the final push to Alpe d’Huez.
The stage also saw some riders struggling, with Pidcock losing contact with the GC riders and Ayuso also facing difficulties. Armirail worked at the front of the break to support his Visma Lease-a-Bike teammate Sepp Kuss, while Pedersen performed a similar role for Ayuso and Skjelmose in the peloton.
Source: theguardian.com
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”