Vingegaard wins epic stage 11 as Pogacar cracks

Issued on: 13/07/2022 – 19:28

Last year’s runner-up Vingegaard attacked 4.9km from the finish to drop Pogacar, who had been attacked relentlessly by the Dane’s Jumbo-Visma team all day long and cracked after looking unbreakable in the first block of racing.

Pogacar held off his rivals in the Col du Telegraphe, where the offensive began 90 kilometres from the line, and the lung-busting Col du Galibier, even winking at the cameras before the final ascent, a dreaded 11.3-km climb at 9.2% to the Col du Granon, which culminates at 2,412 metres.

But Vingegaard’s brutal acceleration wiped the smile off the Slovenian’s face and Pogacar suddenly opened his jersey to get some air before seeing Geraint Thomas, David Gaudu and Adam Yates ride past him in the finale of a memorable 151.7 kilometre ride from Albertville.

Vingegaard reaped the rewards of his earlier attacks and those of team mate Primoz Roglic, who sacrificed his own chances in a risk-it-all strategy by the Jumbo Visma outfit in arguably the best Tour stage this century.

After his attack, Vingegaard never looked back, overtaking Frenchman Warren Barguil, the last survivor of the day’s breakaway, and Colombian Nairo Quintana, who had gone solo earlier from the group of favourites.

Quintana took second place, 59 seconds behind, with France’s Romain Bardet finishing third, one minute and 10 seconds off the pace.

“The team were fantastic, especially Primoz. He’s one of the leaders and he did everything. He showed how generous he is. He’s such a great rider. Winning a tour stage and wearing the yellow jersey is what I’ve always dreamed off,” said Vingegaard.

“Tadej is probably the best rider in the…