07/25/26 11:03:00
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07/25 11:02 CDT Pogacar closes in on record-equaling fifth Tour de France title
as Carapaz wins penultimate stage
Pogacar closes in on record-equaling fifth Tour de France title as Carapaz wins
penultimate stage
ALPE D'HUEZ, France (AP) --- Tadej Pogacar moved to within touching distance of
a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title after finishing safely in the
penultimate stage on Saturday.
The Slovenian star heads into Sunday's showcase finish in Paris with a lead of
6 1/2 minutes over Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel.
Barring mishap, Pogacar will join Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel
Indurain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only men to
win five Tours.
"I have done a really good Tour. Some of our competitors had bad luck," said
Pogacar, whose main rival Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the race. "We made it
through with the team and now there is just one last show left."
The 20th stage was won by Richard Carapaz for his second win at this year's
race and third overall. The Ecuadorian rider overtook Sepp Kuss near the end as
the American almost crashed out. Evenepoel also surged past Kuss near the line
to take second place.
"There was a moment when I couldn't believe what was happening," Carapaz said.
"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."
Pogacar chose not to launch one of his attacks like on Friday's 19th stage.
Stage 20 was a mammoth 171-kilometer alpine trek featuring three hors catgorie
climbs --- the hardest category --- and one category 1 climb.
After three weeks in the saddle, weary riders tackled hors catgorie ascents of
Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne, and the one cat 1
climb of Col du Tlgraphe, making for 66 kilometers of hard climbing in total
before a hilly finish to Alpe d'Huez.
Carapaz rode from the front in order to secure the polka-dot jersey awarded to
the Tour's best climber. Pogacar's yellow jersey group was hanging back when
Carapaz, Kuss, Spaniard Juan Ayuso and Australian Jai Hindley went over the
Galibier together.
Pogacar's priority was ensuring his AE Team Emirates teammate Isaac Del Toro
finished third in the rankings, and the Mexican rider is now more than two
minutes clear of Frenchman Paul Seixas in fourth.
"It's been an honor to ride for Isaac today," said Pogacar, who gifted Del Toro
victory on Stage 2. "Crossing the finish line together with him has been
memorable."
Ayuso was dropped as the former Spanish Vuelta winner Kuss, Hindley and Carapaz
--- both former Giro d'Italia winners --- battled for supremacy in the Sarenne
pass.
"It was really, really tough," Carapaz said. "Sepp, in particular, was a very
tough nut to crack."
An exhausted-looking Kuss lost control of his bike going downhill when he
mistimed a turn with five kilometers left and almost tumbled over a roadside
concrete barrier. Some netting cushioned him.
Carapaz rode swiftly past him to victory.
"It was absolutely brilliant to win here and in a distinctive jersey," Carapaz
said. "I think I deserve it, because I've fought so hard in this Tour de
France."
Pogacar has won five stages on this year's race and 26 overall, meaning he
would likely need to compete in at least two more Tours to beat British
sprinter Mark Cavendish's record of 35 stage wins. Merckx won 34 and Hinault 28.
He may go for another stage win on Sunday.
"Let's see how I feel tomorrow. I won't take any risks," Pogacar said. "But if
I have good legs and I don't have to take too many big risks, I'll try to claim
victory tomorrow."
Shortened stage
Sunday's final stage starts shortly before 6 p.m. on an 89-kilometer route
featuring an uphill dash through the Montmartre district in Paris and finishing
on the Champs-lyses.
The stage was shortened from 133 kilometers and its starting point in Thoiry,
west of the capital, was changed to Paris so as to reduce pressure on emergency
services combatting wildfires in the southwest.
Security forces initially mobilized for Paris have been redeployed to help
response efforts elsewhere.
"The prefect of police and the director of the Tour de France commend the
dedication of all those involved in fighting the wildfires and express their
full solidarity with the affected communities," the Tour said in a statement.
Stage 9 was also shortened amid a heatwave.
The nine-stage women's Tour starts in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Aug. 1 and
finishes in Nice on Aug 9. Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prvt won on debut last
year.
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