Pogačar 5th on Alpe d’Huez

Tadej Pogačar fought back from a disappointing day yesterday to attack Jonas Vingegaard’s (Jumbo-Visma) yellow jersey on the slopes of Alpe D’Huez on stage 12 of the Tour de France.

Starting from Briancon, the Tour de France climbed Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer and Alpe d’Huez along the 166 km of the 12th stage: with success for Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), who preceded Louis Meintjes (Intermaché-Wanty) and Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech).

The group of men in the classification was led by Jumbo-Visma and also on the ramps of Alpe d’Huez the pace was kept high by Primoz Roglic and Sepp Kuss.
All this did not prevent Pogačar from attempting two extensions, at – 4.5 km and at -2.5 km: Vingegaard managed to replicate and subsequently also Geraint Thomas (Ienos Grenadiers), Enric Mas ( Movistar) and Kuss.
In view of the finish line, the captain of the UAE Team Emirates produced in a sprint that led him to obtain the 5th place in the stage and, given the decline of Romain Bardet (Team DSM), to climb to 2nd place in the general classification (+ 2’22 ”from Vingegaard).

Tomorrow Pogačar will face the 13th stage in the white jersey, the 192.6 km Bourg d’Oisans-Saint Etienne with two 3rd category GPMs and a 2nd category GPM.

Pogačar:“Yesterday was not completely negative after all, I’m confident the situations that happened yesterday are unlikely to happen again: I am therefore confident for the future stages.
I got an idea of ​​why I got into trouble, I was reckless in trying to respond to the many attacks made by my opponents and so, after having had good feelings on Galibier, I paid the bill on Granon.

Today my legs were good, I tried to attack but, after what happened yesterday, I was not 100% convinced. However, today’s performance allows me to face the next few days with my head held high and with good morale.
It will be nice for cycling enthusiasts to see the fight for the yellow jersey, given that the gaps between the first riders in the overall standings are not so large “.

Order of arrival 12th stage
1. Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) 4h55’24 ”
2. Louis Meintjes (Internarché-Wanty) +48 ”
3. Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech) + 2’06 ”
5. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) + 3’23 “

General classification after the 12th stage
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 46h28’46 ”
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) + 2’22 “
3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) + 2’26 “