Tadej Pogacar - "After my guys had been working all day, I had to push all the way to the finish line"

Tadej Pogacar has rode to his first stage win yesterday in Longwy, and today again at the Planche des Belles Filles. The Slovenian is riding in the head of the Tour de France, displaying the dominance he's shown last year.

“It’s been a long time since my 2020 success on this climb,” he said. “It was a big goal for me to win today. Of course Jonas is a big rival for me. I think he is one of the strongest climbers of the world right now, probably the best, and he has a very strong team," Pogacar said after the finish. "I’m doing well too… but this is cycling, and things can change from one second to the next."

Pogacar was the favourite to win today's stage, however, it was only with the extensive and fatigue-inducing work of UAE Team Emirates that the riders in the peloton had the chance. The win was the goal though for Pogacar, who had a controlled climb before assuming the front at the entrance of the gravel sector.

He resisted the late move of Jonas Vingegaard, and then outsprinted the Dane to the win. “It was a really difficult race today, especially on the last climb. Jonas’ attack was so strong. But I told myself that, after my guys had been working all day, I had to push all the way to the finish line," he added.

"Also, Urska [his fiancé] was at the finish line, and my family was at the bottom of the climb. Furthermore, we have launched our cancer research foundation today – hence I was wearing some special shoes. All those were reasons to win today," he concluded. He now leads the race with 35 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard, who seems to be the only rider on the same level as the Slovenian if the initial seven days showed something.