Pogačar Nears Record Fifth Tour de France Title After Penultimate Stage

Tadej Pogačar stands on the brink of a historic fifth Tour de France victory, a feat that would place him in elite company alongside cycling legends. The Slovenian rider maintained a commanding lead of six and a half minutes over his closest competitor, Remco Evenepoel, heading into the final stage in Paris. This dominant performance comes after his main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, was forced to withdraw from the race due to a crash.

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I have done a really good Tour. Some of our competitors had bad luck. We made it through with the team and now there is just one last show left.

Pogačar, reflecting on his performance, stated, "I have done a really good Tour. Some of our competitors had bad luck." He acknowledged the team's efforts in navigating the challenges, with only the ceremonial final stage remaining. His focus has also been on ensuring his teammate Isaac Del Toro secures third place in the overall rankings, a goal he has successfully achieved.

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There was a moment when I couldn't believe what was happening. This Tour de France has been incredible, with all the spectators and all the support I've received from Ecuador, where they'll be jumping for joy.

The penultimate stage, a grueling 171-kilometer alpine trek, was won by Richard Carapaz, marking his second stage victory of this year's Tour and third overall. Carapaz showcased his climbing prowess, overtaking Sepp Kuss near the finish line. Evenepoel also managed to surge past Kuss in the final moments to claim second place on the stage. Carapaz expressed his elation, calling the win "absolutely brilliant" and believing he deserved it after a hard-fought race.

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It's been an honour to ride for Isaac today. Crossing the finish line together with him has been memorable.

While Pogačar opted not to launch any significant attacks on the challenging 20th stage, which featured multiple high-category climbs, his strategic focus was on team objectives. The stage tested the endurance of the weary riders with ascents including the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, and Col de Sarenne. Carapaz's victory and Pogačar's near-certain overall win highlight a Tour marked by both individual brilliance and the unpredictable nature of professional cycling.

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It was really, really tough. Sepp, in particular, was a very tough nut to crack.