Tadej Pogačar, a 26-year-old cyclist from the Sunshine Coast, delivered an emotional performance as he crossed the finish line in Pontarlier, finishing 54 seconds ahead of Frank van den Broek and 59 seconds clear of Pascal Eenkhoorn. His victory was a huge personal breakthrough. It further cemented his place in cycling history by accomplishing the incredible Trilogy triple, which involves two stages at the Giro d’Italia and seven at the Spanish Vuelta.
Yet as Pogačar made his way into the final kilometers, all eyes were on the superstar’s impressive bike-handling abilities in tricky tacky wet conditions. Skill and talent were on parade as he handled the treacherous cascade 21 km from the line with amazing poise. Tears poured down his cheeks as he realized the enormity of what he had accomplished. The pressure and weighty expectation that accompanies a race of this importance invaded his psyche.
It’s hardly surprising, given that Pogačar currently leads his arch-rival Jonas Vingegaard by a whopping 4 minutes 24 seconds. As he prepares to win his fourth Tour de France title on Sunday. If he pulls off this improbable feat, he’ll match the accomplishment of British rider Chris Froome. Froome, like Contador, can point to four Tour titles on his resume.
The excitement continues to grow as we move into the final stage — a 132.3-kilometer course from Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris. Pogačar is set to tackle the iconic Butte Montmartre three times, a significant change from previous years, before finishing laps on the Champs-Élysées. Experts predict that barring any unexpected mishaps, Pogačar is well-positioned to complete the job and clinch his fifth Grand Tour title.
Just ask Tadej Pogačar, who recently cracked under the immense pressure during the Tour. In our conversation last summer, he shared his passion to go out and earn his place among cycling’s greats.
“There’s so much pressure at the Tour, and having won in the Giro, having won in the Vuelta, all I ever get asked is am I good enough to win in the Tour? And now I show them. It’s my first time winning, so it’s pretty incredible.” – Kaden Groves
Pace of enthusiasm is building to a crescendo! Fans and competitors alike are looking toward the dramatic conclusion of this year’s Tour de France. If Pogačar wins on Sunday, he cements the legacy. He’ll show that he’s really as “good enough” as it gets — good enough to crush the American — if not world — cycling scene.
