Pogačar ranks second in Tour de France stage 18 thriller

PARIS, 22nd July, 2022 (WAM) — Tadej Pogačar has won second place in the 18th stage of the Grande Boucle, which offered the last climbs of this Tour de France, stretching 143.2 kilometres from Lourdes to Hautacam,

The stage saw an explosion of attacks, though no group immediately found any leeway by the peloton.

On the second climb, the Col de Spandelles, the work of Brandon McNulty begins, placed at the head of the group to dictate the pace. With less than 40 kilometres from the finish, Pogačar launched his first attack, with only Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) able to keep up with him.

On a fast and dirty descent, there was a moment of panic when Pogačar crashed on a bend, though would later remount and join the leaders again.

On the final 14 kilometres, a group formed by Pogačar, Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) and the duo of Vingegaard-Kuss (Jumbo-Visma).

With four kilometres to the line, Pogačar lost touch of the leaders, before fighting back to finish in second position behind the Yellow Jersey.

Pogačar said, “I gave it all today, I wasn’t thinking about the stage win, I was thinking about the yellow jersey. I gave it my all on the second to last climb, crashed on the downhill, gave it my all on the last climb but second place is the best for me. I think I did all I could and I think I can be proud of the result.”