2023-07-23 06:13:00
Tadej Pogacar was relieved. With clenched fists, he roared his delight at the second stage win at the 2023 Tour de France. In the final sprint after 133 kilometers, the Slovenian flexed his muscles and showed his teeth to the designated Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard in Le Markstein Fellering – literally.
The liberated 24-year-old also beamed in the interview after the triumph on the 20th stage. “It was good that I felt good from start to finish. Especially after a few days when I suffered,” said Pogacar, who was unable to keep up with defending champion Vingegaard last week and had lost more than seven minutes to the Dane within two days (in the time trial and on the king’s stage).
All the more important for the two-time Tour winner was the liberation on the hard penultimate section on Saturday, which led over six difficult climbs in the Vosges.
In the end, the UAE captain beat Vingegaard and Felix Gall in the final sprint with the same explosiveness that characterized him before his collapse in the Alps on Wednesday. “I’m super, super happy to have brought the thing home on the finish line,” said the Slovenian.
Pogacar praises his team
Eurosport expert Bernie Eisel took off his hat to Pogacar’s morale in the “Velo Club” after the stage. “He doesn’t give up. That’s why he has such a fan community. He went through and won the stage with a superior sprint,” praised the 42-year-old.
Pogacar strikes back: “Huge battle announcement for 2024”
Pogacar himself was humble as usual and once again thanked his team for working towards his superstar’s victory throughout the stage.
“I was very happy that the team did such a great job once again,” said the Slovenian, highlighting Brit Adam Yates, who paved the way to the finish line in Le Markstein in the final meters. “He helped me a lot. Thanks to him it was a little easier to prepare for the final,” analyzed Pogacar.
Voigt: “A huge declaration of war”
Just a conciliatory end to the tour – or even more? Eurosport expert Jens Voigt is already looking ahead to the 2024 Tour of France.
“It’s a huge challenge for next year,” said the 51-year-old, who expects the next exchange of blows between Pogacar and Vingegaard next year: “Both have two Tour de France victories. Both want to win the third tour.”
Tadej Pogacar celebrates the 20th stage of the tour
Fotocredit: Getty Images
However, before Pogacar sets his sights on the next tour himself, he looked back on the past three weeks in an interview and once again put his team in the foreground. “The atmosphere on the bus and how this team stood together will remain in my mind as the best memory,” said the 24-year-old.
And that despite the fact that his worst thought about the tour also has to do with a teammate – albeit with a wink.
Soler creates “most disturbing moment”
“Every time Marc Soler turned to me on the Col de la Loze with his frightening eyes, that was the most disturbing moment,” he said with a dose of humor about his slump on the queen’s stage. Victory on the 20th leg didn’t completely erase the memory of the worst defeat of his career, but it did at least allow Pogacar to laugh again.
Pogacar in need! Slovenian cannot follow Vingegaard and Co
Would he now wish for a fourth week given his improving form?
“Now we can continue,” joked the Slovenian, but immediately backtracked: “No, let’s go home.” Before that, the peloton around Pogacar can tackle the final stage to Paris before he will again take the white jersey to Slovenia as the best youngster.
It should be clear: After the liberation on the 20th stage, Pogacar will enter the Champs-Élysées with a smile.
Perfectly prepared: Pogacar beats Vingegaard on stage 20
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