Tadej Pogacar delivered a masterclass in cycling strategy Saturday, securing his fifth stage win of this year's Tour de France and tightening his grip on the yellow jersey. The Slovenian champion out-sprinted rival Jonas Vingegaard in a dramatic mountain finish, leaving fans gasping 😱 as he extended his overall lead to over five minutes.
The UAE Emirates rider played chess 🧠 on wheels during the 132.8km Nice-to-Alps showdown, sticking to Vingegaard's wheel before unleashing a brutal 250m sprint that had commentators calling it 'pure poetry in motion.' 🎯
'I couldn't be happier,' grinned Pogacar post-race. 'If you'd told me before the Tour I'd be here like this? No way I'd believe you!' The 25-year-old now needs only to survive Sunday's time trial to claim his third Tour crown 👑.
Vingegaard, the two-time defending champ, lost critical seconds trying to shake off third-placed Remco Evenepoel. The Danish rider's valiant effort earned respect 🫡 from Pogacar: 'He showed today he's not easy to crack.'
History awaits as Sunday's finale breaks tradition ❌🇫🇷 – no Paris finish line for the first time ever! The Olympic Games forced organizers to pivot to a Monaco-Nice time trial route. Bonus: Ecuador's Richard Carapaz locked down the polka dot jersey 🟡🔴 while Eritrea's Biniam Girmay secured green 🟢.
One question remains: Will Sunday's time trial be victory lap or last hurdle? 🏁 All eyes turn to the French Riviera for the ultimate showdown.
