Tadej Pogacar: The attack is the best defense

Tadej Pogacar (UAE) in 7. Stage of the Dauphine criteria repeated the exercise from the day before. He attacked violently after the start of the target climb, shook off all its competitors and cycled a convincing victory in an independent ride. The only difference was that he did so yesterday to take over the yellow T -shirt of the leader, but today to defend it without complications.

After simultaneous in the 6th stage in which Pogačar left behind his biggest rival Jonas Vingegaardin the Royal 7. The test with more than 4,800 meters was expected to answer Danč’s Visma Leas A Bike team.

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It was hoped that the assumption that Vingegagaard is stronger than Pogacar on the longest high -altitude slopes. Namely, three extra category giants were stretched-on Col de la Madeleine (24.6 km, 6.2 %average slope), Col de la Croix de Fer (22.4 km, 6.9 %) and still targeted on Valmeinier 1800 (16.5 km, 6.7 %). The Dutch band took the initiative primarily on the second ascent of the day and separated the Croix de Fer Pogacar at the top of the Croix de Fer Pogacar from his assistants.

But it is Paul gray He was able to get enough power to return to the forefront and tirelessly dictate the pace at the head of the favorite group until the target climb. He did this as long as he was still carrying his feet, and exactly 12 km before the finish line, he withdrew, which was a sign of Pogacar’s jump. This time he did not attack as many times this year, he rose to pedals and slammed past Seppa kussawho had been sent forward at Visma shortly before, is probably in the preparation of the Vingegaard Captain. This time, this time he did not try to follow the Slovenian acceleration for a long time, but was a little more successful when hunting at the pace than the day before.

This time he did not lose his minute, the highest Pogacar’s advantage was 30 seconds, at the finish line for 14 seconds, but mainly because the 26-year-old from the Komenda slope was far from being driven, while the 28-year-old Danec left his soul and heart in the last kilometer.

The action was prepared by the gray

“We wanted to control what is happening on all today’s climbs, in which the team of Visma Lease A Bike has repeatedly attacked. I was very pleased with how our team cycled today, especially Pavel Sivakov, « said Pogacar about the events before the decisive climb, who logically decided on the old sporting wisdom – the attack is the best defense.

“It was more about defense so that I would not be attacked by all the riders of Visme Laese A Bike. So I triggered the attack and held a good pace to the top. I am pleased that I was able to defend the yellow T -shirt. They attacked before the summit of climbing Croix de Fer, I think they then wanted to get rid of the descent, and the first few kilometers were taken dangerously. I didn’t like it, but this is modern cycling. Then Paul returned to the forefront and took control. Everything was fine, and then at the beginning of the last ascent he said he would not last long. He prepared me an attack, in which I insisted mainly because I did not want attacks from behind, « Pogacar continued after increasing the advantage in the total to 1:01 ahead of Vingegaard and 2:21 before Floriano Lipowitz (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe). Was strongly behind up to 6. Stage leading Remco Evenepoel (Soududal Quick Step), who will also lose the fight for the white T -shirt of the best young cyclist with a German peer.

Two more mountain specialists at the Tour

Not long ago, Pogacar also belonged to this category, but this time is the absolute ruler of the cycling world. To his 21 this year. The competition day has already celebrated the 10th season. “Today, Jonas was certainly very strong, but on the other hand, this time I did not want to go too deeply in effort. It was extremely hot and the slope was long. Fortunately, I had enough time so that I could give in a little in the last kilometer and recover. You certainly look at the performances of competitors, which could be even stronger on the Tour, but we will add two more mountain specialists to our team. I look forward to it, « said Poga, who is now » dangerous « near hundreds of career proceeds.

Jonas Vingegaard has been tired of cycling in target 7. Stage. Photo: Anne-Christine Ponjoulat/AFP

He has already celebrated 98. The victory if tomorrow receives both the final mountain stage and the total of the race, this number will become three -digit. With this, the best cyclist in the world has not bleached his head today, focusing that the yellow T -shirt of the Dofine race, which Primož Roglič had already received in 2022 and last year, safely brings to the goal: « So far everything has gone OK, we have to spend tomorrow. »

Profile 8. Stage Dauphine criteria. Infographics: Work