Tadej Pogacar has claimed victory in the seventh stage of the Tour de France, held on the infamous Mur de Bretagne. After his win on Friday, the Slovenian cyclist dedicated his success to his teammate, Portuguese rider João Almeida.
Almeida faced a significant setback during the race, crashing spectacularly with just 5.5 kilometers remaining. He was among a group of approximately ten cyclists involved in the incident. Although he initially sat on the roadside, complaining about his wrist, Almeida managed to return to the race, finishing 10 minutes and 13 seconds behind Pogacar, thus ending his hopes of reaching the podium.
In a thrilling finale, Pogacar sprinted ahead of his rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma) after a 197-kilometer ride from Saint-Malo, crossing the finish line with a time of 4 hours, 5 minutes, and 39 seconds. Vingegaard finished second, while British cyclist Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) took third, just two seconds later.
With this win marking his 19th stage victory at the Tour, Pogacar reclaimed the overall lead, holding a 54-second advantage over Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step). French cyclist Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) secured the third position on the general classification, trailing by 1 minute and 11 seconds.
Looking ahead, the upcoming eighth stage offers sprinters another chance for victory on the flat route from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval, covering 171.4 kilometers. This stage is expected to provide exciting opportunities for those who thrive in sprint finishes.