Tadej Pogacar is on the verge of securing his fourth Tour de France title after maintaining his lead during the final mountain stage of this year’s race. Thymen Arensman triumphed dramatically at La Plagne, marking a thrilling conclusion to the high altitude challenge.
Currently, Pogacar maintains a commanding lead of four minutes and 24 seconds over his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, with only two flatter stages remaining. This substantial advantage nearly guarantees his victory, especially as he crossed the finish line alongside Vingegaard, conceding merely two bonus seconds.
In a fiercely competitive finish on the exhausting climb to La Plagne, the top four riders in the general classification pursued Arensman, who was able to clinch a memorable victory at an elevation of 2,052 meters, while Vingegaard fell just short by two seconds.
Britain’s Oscar Onley, who is only 22, was notably ahead in the race for a podium finish but unfortunately lost ground in the final two kilometers. This allowed Florian Lipowitz to secure third place.
The organizers had to revise Friday’s route due to a herd of diseased cattle discovered on the Col des Saisies, leading to a reduction in the stage distance from 130 kilometers to 95 kilometers and the removal of two categorized climbs in the Alps. Nonetheless, the stage included two hors catégorie climbs, preceded by the Col du Pre before the finish line at La Plagne.
Looking ahead, Saturday’s penultimate stage will cover a 184.2-kilometer route from Nantua, which is expected to favor breakaway specialists as it weaves through the picturesque hills of the Jura towards Pontarlier.
This year’s Tour de France demonstrates the resilience and competitive spirit of the riders, particularly Pogacar’s ability to fend off strong challenges in the high mountains, hinting at an exciting finish in Paris this Sunday.