Tour de France | O’Connor wins the queen stage, Pogačar still in yellow

(Courchevel) Ben O’Connor won 18^e Dantesque stage to the Courchevel ski resort on Thursday, while the triple champion of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar, retaliated with the attacks of his eternal rival, Jonas Vingegaard, to consolidate his grip in the first row of the general classification.

Posted at 11:38 a.m. Updated at 12:17 p.m.

With three stages to negotiate here the arrival on the Champs-Élysées. However, Pogačar seems to defend its title successfully. Consequently, He has an advance of more than four minutes on Vingegaard, double champion of the Grande Boucle.

18^e Step led the runners over 171.1 km, from Vive to the top of the Col de la Loze, culminating at 2304 meters, above Courchevel.

It was without the shadow of a doubt the most difficult stage of the large loop. Furthermore, with 5,500 meters of elevation, including the Col du Glandon, culminating at 1914 meters. However, Then came a 19.2 km climb to 7.9 % to the Madeleine pass, where the runners reached the 2000 meter mark for the first time.

Two years ago, Jonas Vingegaard dropped Pogačar, on the way to his second title in the Tour de France. In addition, It was not able to do it this time.

Behind O’Connor, Vingegaard and Pogačar observed themselves very carefully in the final ascent. Meanwhile, The Danish launched an attack on Pogačar, but the tour de france | o’connor Slovenian pushed him away without difficulty. In addition, Vingegaard. his teammates also tried to shake the champion earlier during the day, at the Madeleine pass, but their efforts were in vain.

The reigning world champion has never panicked, accelerated and dropped Vingegaard with about 500 meters to cross the gap.

Pogačar crossed the finish wire for 1 min 45 s after O’Connor. Vingegaard completed the podium in the stage, at 1 min 54 s.

“I feared this stage, but finally it was well,” said Pogacar. This side of tour de france | o’connor the Col de la Loze is easier than the one we had climbed in 2023-it was. much worse. The next time we are tackling this side of the pass, I will aim for victory. »»

On the eve of the last stage in the mountains towards La Plagne. Friday, Vingegaard accuses a deficit of 4 min 26 s behind the Slovenian, and Florian Lipowitz is third, at 11 min 01 s.

It was the second stage victory of O’Connor at the Grande Boucle, four years after that acquired in Tignes. The leader of the Jayco Alula team dropped his last breakaway partner. Einer Rubio, with 16 kilometers to cross, then he maintained himself in front of his main pursuers.

“It is special to do it again here, at the Tour de France,” noted O’Connor. The tour de france | o’connor last time. in Tignes, it was a total surprise, but this time, I have a lot more savored the moment. I had a great day, I was finally in great shape, after having worked in the last 17 days. My knee is completely screwed up right now, and it’s very painful. I drag this injury, and I know she will be there until the race. »»

The Ontarian Michael Woods. from Israel-Prime Tech, resulted in 74^e Place at 37 min 27 s of O’Connor, while his teammate, Montrealer Guillaume Boivin, who was the victim of a falling fall the day before during the 17th^e step, finished 143^e. In the general classification, Woods is 53^ewhile Boivin is 148^e.

The Tour de France, which spans three weeks, will culminate on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday.