The Tour accepts Pogacar’s supremacy and questions its excess of ambition

Carlos de Torres

He Tour de France enjoyed his first day of rest after 9 stages in which the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar He left the race doomed with his historic exhibition in Gavarniean overwhelming dominance that the peloton assumes with a critical sense “due to excess of ambition.”

Pogacar He is unstoppable, he governs with an iron fist and is going through one of the best moments of his career, which was reflected 43 km from the Pyrenean finish line with a trademark solo attack in the Tourmalet which allowed him to put an end to the Tour.

That day, the double World champion ordered the fifth Tour, and knocked on the door of the “club of 5”, where Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain are waiting for him. The general was annihilated. He left his greatest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, apart from being defeated, at 2.42 minutes, the Mexican Isaac del Toro at 3.22, Evenepoel at 3.30, Juan Ayuso – the first Spaniard – at 3.34, who is followed by the Frenchman Paul Seixas at 3.55.

The demonstration of Pogacar27 years old and winner of 23 stages in the Tour, turned that movement into a true exhibition of strength, resistance and confidence, also armored by a UAE whose potential intimidates the rest of the teams. Nobody dares to answer the best team in the world led by a monumental, vintage cyclist.

A domain that bothers

The excessive ambition of Pogacar and the UAE’s way of controlling the race causes discomfort in the rest of the team. The ninth day ending in Ussel was an example. The Emirati team kept the escape at bay and then did not fight for the stage, leaving, late, other teams to be eligible for partial victory.

“There are many interests in the peloton, sporting and economic, and for many a stage or a good position could mean a lot, but Pogacar and the UAE do not allow anything to others. It is difficult to understand,” say some sports directors.

What are the UAE’s objectives in the remaining two weeks? Obviously, achieving the fifth Tour with Pogacarbut among the incentives that the Slovenian can find is helping the Mexican Del Toro to achieve second place. And of course, the team title, the mountains and everything that lies ahead. A devastating Tour.

Ayuso in fight for the podium; Movistar without a leader to look for stages

Spanish cycling is not experiencing its best moments in this Tour de France. The main asset continues to be Juan Ayuso, who in his first year as head of Lidl Trek intends to show his potential near the podium. Like all the other candidates, he is a victim of Emperor Pogacar, but from the fifth he can evolve in a key year to demonstrate his abilities in the best race in the world.

At the Movistar home, the objectives that were presented at the start of Barcelona soon went to waste. Belgian leader Cian Uitjdebroeks crashed in the first time trial and then an illness ended his participation during his debut. With García Pierna and Castrillo fighting hard, Movistar will be seen in the breakaways in pursuit of a stage victory.

Good impression of Caja Rural Seguros RGA, who has fulfilled the objective of being the protagonist in the day’s escapes. Álex Molenaar was the first leader of the mountain and riders like the Czech Jakub Otruba have been common in the breakaways. The Colombian Fernando Gaviria has gotten into the mass arrivals, still without luck.

The second week visits the Vosges and Plateau de Solaison

After the first day of rest there will be fireworks on July 14, National Holiday, with the arrival at Le Lioran, a stage with an undulating finish with the ascents to the Puy Mary and the Col du Pertus, both of 1a. In Le Lioran, in 2024 Jonas Vingegaard defeated Tadej Pogacar after an exciting sprint. Will the Slovenian take revenge?

The finish lines of Nevers and Chalon-sur-Saône will be ideal for photos of the sprinters raising their arms. In the second of them you start at the Magny Cours speed circuit. The week will end with other scenarios with the Jura and the Vosges present.

The marathon stage will be held between Dole and Belfort, the longest at 205.6 km. Single port day with the legendary Ballon d’Alsace (1st, 8.9 km to 7th) as a reference point. It will be an appetizer to an interesting weekend with the arrivals at Le Markstein after climbing the Col du Haag (1a, 11.2 km at 7.3) and the unprecedented Plateau de Solaison (Special, 11.3 km at 9). One of the keys of the Tour with 4,000 meters of elevation gain.