Tadej Pogacar showcased his trademark aggressive style during the thrilling ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday. The Slovenian cyclist relentlessly attacked defending champion Jonas Vingegaard across the gravel-strewn roads, providing a spectacle of top-tier racing.
While Pogacar retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey, it was France’s Anthony Turgis who captured the stage victory. Turgis executed a perfectly timed sprint from the breakaway group at the end of the grueling 199-kilometer ride, securing France’s third win in this year’s edition.
“I ride with my heart, and today was a day to do it,” Pogacar remarked after the stage. Despite his efforts to pressure Vingegaard, the Dane remained well-protected by his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates, keeping the top contenders closely grouped by the stage’s end.
Throughout the stage, Pogacar seized opportunities on the gravel sections to distance himself from his rivals. In one of his most audacious moves, he launched a powerful acceleration that momentarily left Vingegaard and others trailing in a cloud of dust. However, collaborative efforts among the leading teams ensured the main contenders remained within reach.
The day’s race was marked by mechanical challenges and strategic plays. Vingegaard suffered a puncture early on but quickly recovered by swapping bikes with a teammate. Primoz Roglic faced a significant setback when he was distanced on a gravel section, only to claw his way back with the help of his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team.
As the race entered its final kilometers, Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven attempted a solo break but was overtaken just one kilometer from the finish line. Turgis capitalized on the moment, sprinting ahead to claim his first Tour de France stage victory since 2019.
“It’s incredible. I’ve been trying for years to get a big win,” Turgis expressed with elation. “I had good sensations. I hung in there, was dropped a few times; it was a long day.”
With the first rest day approaching, Pogacar leads the general classification, holding a 33-second advantage over Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, and further ahead of Vingegaard and Roglic. The battle for the yellow jersey promises to intensify as the Tour progresses, with Pogacar’s aggressive tactics hinting at more excitement to come.
Reference(s):
Pogacar on the attack again as Frenchman Turgis wins gravel Tour stage
cgtn.com
