Pogacar Urges Tour Rivals to Chase Yellow Jersey With 3.5-Minute Gap Before Stage 14
Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 17
Pogacar Urges Tour Rivals to Chase Yellow Jersey With 3.5-Minute Gap Before Stage 14
3 articles · Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 17
Summary
More than 3.5 minutes ahead after 13 stages, Tadej Pogacar said rivals should not settle for second place and must keep fighting for the Tour de France title.
Saturday's 155km Stage 14 from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering could force that issue, with four major climbs and steep sections on the final Col du Haag inviting attacks.
Jonas Vingegaard's Visma-Lease a Bike still says it believes in a comeback, though team manager Marc Reef acknowledged it will be difficult if Pogacar and UAE Emirates-XRG keep this level.
Tom Pidcock's breakaway ride into Belfort lifted him from 10th to fourth overall, while fifth-placed Juan Ayuso said Lidl-Trek would watch UAE control the race and try to exploit any opening.
With back-to-back mountain stages this weekend and a brutal final week ahead, Pogacar's dominance has already shaped the race around whether anyone will challenge him directly.