Tour de France: the Danish Vingegaard came out of the Pyrenees reinforced and is about to take his first victory

the Danish jonas vingegaard He practically condemned the Tour de France by winning the 18th stage, the most important in the Pyrenees, which took place this Thursday on 143.2 kilometers between Lourdes and Hautacam. The pilot of the team Jumbo Visma he gave a masterful performance that allowed him to put an end to the resistance of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacarwho ended up moved by a fall.

Decisive blow of authority by Vingegaard, who, if he does not run into a misfortune, will be the winner of this edition’s French race. The Dane has established himself as the leader of the general classification, resisting pressure from Pogacar (United Arab Emirates) in an epic battle in the last mountain stage and the Slovenian’s attack on the ascent to Hautacam, where he exploded alone, crowning and obtaining his second victory in the “Big Boucle”.

Vingegaard’s shot, supported by his team from start to finish, especially by an incredible Wout Van Aerthe brought Pogacar, champion of the last two editions, to his knees, who crossed the finish line shirtless to fight the oppressive heat, 1:04 minutes from the winner.

The leader of Jumbo has thus managed to extend his advantage over the Slovenian in the general classification, who is now in the lead with a time of 71h53m34, 3m26 less than the United Arab Emirates and 8m behind the British. Geraint Thomaswhich is the third.

With this Friday stage suitable for sprinters (188.3 km between Castelnau-Magnoac and Cahors); The time trial on Saturday in Rocamadour; and the walk to the Champs Elysées in Paris on Sundays, those almost three and a half minutes you have “mattress” the Dane could serve to add a first Tour de France to his record.

“I have to thank everyone. Tadej’s attacks were very strong and only with the acceleration of Wout van Aert we managed to escape and that’s when I felt I could win the stage”, commented Vingegaard.

“I have increased the advantage in general but I still don’t think about the final victory. I’m not saying that I won the Tour yet. Until it’s all over in Paris on Sunday, I won’t say it. I have to stay focused, something can happen every day”, he added cautiously and unwittingly celebrating ahead of time.

The Jumbo team tactically dominated a stage whose final kilometers counted on the presence in the car of the Tour director of French President Emmanuel Macron. And who had three victims of the last minute before the start in Lourdes: the Spaniard Imanol Ervitithe four-time winner of the Tour Chris Froome and Italian Damiano Carusowho will not be able to complete the test after having tested positive for Covid-19.

In the first hour almost 50 km were covered, the group broke up into several sectors and the first break was made on the road to Aubisque with 33 riders. The ascent of that section was directed by Van Aert, only surpassed in crown by the Italian Ciccone, aspiring to the mountain on the last day with climbs.

The Belgian, companion of Vingegaard, was the first to complete the descent and also ordered the ascent to the unprecedented Col de Spandelles as he pleased. From behind, Pogacar made five consecutive attacks to try to shake the general’s leader, but was unsuccessful.

And in the descent of that sector of the route the final destiny of the stage was defined. First Vingegaard was about to fall, although a few meters later it was Pogacar himself who fell to the ground. He got up quickly and got back on his bicycle. But despite the Jumbos waiting for him – they even shook hands, in an image that reflected the fair play and sportiness of both -, the Slovenian, with a wound to the back of the thigh, did not show the momentum that had characterized until at that time.

“I waited for him out of respect. I had the impression that he was going very fast. He slipped and fell. And I thought I had to wait for him,” commented the Dane, belittling his gesture, which went around the world through social media and went viral.

With Pogacar injured, without the strength to attack as in the beginning, Vingegaard doesn’t miss the chance. released by sepp kusstied to Van Aert, who paved the way for him, and 4.5 km from the finish, he accelerated and did not look back.

The Jumbo leader has signed his second victory in this Tour, after the one obtained in the Alps with a finish at Col du Granon and which allowed him to reach the first place in the general classification for the first time. And he practically secured his first title in one of the most important stage races in world cycling.

With information from EFE and AFP