'I'm Departed, I'm Defeated' - Pogacar's Tour Aspirations Shattered by Heartbreak

 

Tadej Pogacar's chances of securing a third Tour de France title diminished dramatically as he struggled during the challenging ascent to the Col de la Loze on the 17th stage, which took place on Wednesday.

Pogacar's misfortune started when he crashed early in the stage, resulting in a significant time loss of one minute and 38 seconds during Tuesday's individual time trial. Starting the toughest stage of this year's race, he trailed the overall leader and defending champion, Jonas Vingegaard, by 1:48.

As the reduced peloton tackled the steep part of the 28.1km climb, Pogacar fell behind and rode alongside his UAE Emirates teammate Marc Soler. Clearly exhausted, he could only watch as the yellow jersey holder, Vingegaard, continued to extend his lead.

Crossing the finish line more than five minutes after Vingegaard, Pogacar found himself a substantial 7:35 behind the Danish rider in the overall standings, just four days before the race's conclusion on the Champs Elysees.

After the race, Pogacar expressed his disappointment, admitting that he felt completely drained at the beginning of the climb. Despite eating a lot, he struggled to find the energy in his legs. He described it as one of the worst days on a bike in his life.

This stage was expected to be Pogacar's opportunity to bounce back after his disappointing performance in the solo time trial on Tuesday. However, it became apparent early on that the 24-year-old rider would face difficulties.

Adding to his misfortune, Pogacar suffered a crash a few kilometers into the stage when he accidentally touched wheels with another rider, resulting in a cut to his left knee.

Nevertheless, Pogacar remains focused on the upcoming stages and hopes to win Saturday's penultimate stage, a hilly route that suits more aggressive riders. He aims to secure a stage win for his team, with Adam Yates as a strong contender.

Currently, Briton Yates holds the third position overall, trailing by 10:45, and maintains a 1:16 lead over Spain's Carlos Rodriguez, who is in fourth place.

Pogacar's relentless attacks earlier in the race and his disrupted preparations due to a wrist fracture in April might have played a role in his current struggles. Vingegaard acknowledged that such aggressive tactics can make a rider vulnerable and create opportunities for others to gain significant advantages.