Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar wins stage 14 at Tour de France
Pau, 13 July - Slovenia's cycling star Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won stage 14 of this year's Tour de France on Saturday. On the 151.9-kilometre stage from Pau to Pla D'Adet, he attacked and crushed Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the last four kilometres, crossing the finish line 39 seconds before the two-time Tour winner.
Pla D'adet, France
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) wins stage 14 at Tour de France.
Photo: dpa/STA
Agen, France
Stage 14 at Tour de France.
Photo: dpa/STA
Pogačar, who holds the yellow jersey, increased his lead to Vinegaard to 1:57 minutes. Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) is in third place, 2:22 minutes behind.
Pogačar bagged the 79th victory of his career and the 13th stage victory at the Tour four kilometres before the finish line, after overtaking both Vinegaard and Evenepoel, who first remained relatively close but then the Slovenian star increased his lead.
He crossed the finish line 39 seconds before Vingegaard and 1:10 minutes before Evenepoel.
"As I said, the plan was to try to win the small group sprint and try to get some bonus seconds. But this is much better. The advantage is obviously good news and I'm very happy to be in this position. But we need to continue in a similar style and keep that energy in the team. And of course good legs," said the Slovenian ace.
"To win a stage in the Tour is something special in itself. I never thought about it when I was young. I saw Mark Cavendish winning all those sprinters' stages and it seemed like he was from another planet.
"But if you follow your dreams, you can achieve anything. That doesn't mean I'm going for Cavendish's record, I just mentioned him as a role model. I am happy that he is still winning after watching him on TV screens," Pogačar said about the British record holder with 35 stage wins in the Tour.
On Sunday, the 15th stage will take riders from Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille (197.7 km).