Pogačar breaks Alpe d'Huez record in Tour de France stage win

Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar has once again demonstrated his dominance in the Tour de France, winning the 19th stage with a record-breaking performance on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb. This victory further solidifies his position as the overall leader of the prestigious cycling race.

Pogačar launched a decisive attack with 12 kilometers remaining in the stage. In the final two kilometers, he overtook Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez. With just 800 meters to the finish line, Pogačar surged ahead, shattering the Alpe d'Huez climbing record previously held by Italian legend Marco Pantani for 31 years. Pogačar completed the climb in an astonishing 35 minutes and 26 seconds, more than a minute faster than Pantani's 1995 record.

"It's very special to win here. The atmosphere is truly extraordinary," Pogačar stated after the stage. "This success is the result of the hard work of the entire team. Today I raced for my teammates, and this victory means a lot."

Despite some UAE Emirates-XRG teammates reportedly struggling with injuries and illness, and Brandon McNulty withdrawing the day before due to flu-like symptoms, Pogačar's performance was exceptional. This win marks his fifth stage victory in the current Tour de France edition and his 26th career stage win since his debut in 2020. It is also his first win on Alpe d'Huez, a climb he has now conquered despite his relatively short but dominant career.

Lenny Martinez finished second, six seconds behind Pogačar, while stage 18 winner Richard Carapaz secured third place, nine seconds adrift. This result extends Pogačar's overall lead to over seven minutes ahead of Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, who finished sixth on the stage. With only two stages remaining, Pogačar is now in a strong position to potentially claim his fifth Tour de France title.

“

It's very special to win here. The atmosphere is truly extraordinary. This success is the result of the hard work of the entire team. Today I raced for my teammates, and this victory means a lot.