Tadej Pogacar has seized the coveted yellow jersey at the Tour de France, winning stage three in Les Angles and snatching the lead from rival Jonas Vingegaard.
The Slovenian cycling star claimed his 22nd career Tour stage victory, marking a significant early move in his quest for a record-equalling fifth title.
The decisive moment came on the short final climb, where Pogacar’s team-mate Isaac del Toro, who had been instrumental in Sunday’s stage two win, led him perfectly.
The world champion launched his attack with just 250 metres remaining, creating a crucial two-second gap over Vingegaard at the finish line. While both riders are now level on time after three stages, Pogacar holds the overall lead on countback.
Reflecting on his victory, Pogacar praised his team-mate: “It’s because of Isaac today that I got some extra power in the final.”
He added, “In the middle of the stage we decided it was possible to go for the stage win and I’m really happy we can start the Tour like this, it was an incredible finish today. If we can win like we did today and the team feels super good we have to take the opportunity.”
The 196km stage, which traversed the Pyrenees from Granollers in Spain into France, initially appeared suited for a breakaway. However, Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad maintained a tight control on the pace, preventing any significant gaps from forming among the escapees.
Alex Baudin, who began the day 67 seconds behind the yellow jersey, managed to secure the king of the mountains classification before being reeled in with 10km to go. Britain’s Tom Pidcock, considered a potential contender for the stage, ultimately faded on the final ascent, finishing 18 seconds adrift in 16th place.
Crowd numbers were notably smaller than usual during the final 40 kilometres, as fans had been advised to stay away due to ongoing wildfires in the region, which did not directly impact the race route.
The wildfires have led to thousands of people being evacuated from their home in southern France, with two dozen towns being threatened near the Spanish border.
