Tour de France: Tadej Pogacar 'dominant' in time trials and 'untouchable' in mountains - 'Where can you break him?'

Published 21/07/2024 at 19:24 GMT

Eurosport expert and legendary cyclist Sean Kelly led the breathless reaction to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) clinching a quite brilliant third Tour de France title on Sunday. The Slovenian, who is still just 25 years old, romped to a sixth victory in the time trial to seal his crown in style. How can his rivals possibly stop him when he is so strong in every department?

'Greatest rivalry Tour has ever seen' - Reaction as Pogacar usurps Vingegaard

Tadej Pogacar's convincing triumph at the 2024 Tour de France left his fellow competitors wondering how they could topple him. For Eurosport's experts, including the great Sean Kelly, it is not an easy thing to figure out.

Pogacar took victory on Stage 21 by 1'03'' from rival Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) with Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) in third to round off the podium.

The Slovenian, who also won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, finished 6'17'' ahead of Vingegaard in the general classification and looked close to unbeatable in pretty much every aspect of the Grand Tour.

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Kelly and fellow former professional cyclists Dani Rowe and Robbie McEwen gave their reactions on the Eurosport post-race show The Breakaway.

On Pogacar and Vingegaard's rivalry, Kelly said: "You can see the camaraderie, and that is the great thing.

"Looking at Pogacar there, he said that it is a great rivalry and great for cycling, but for his rivals, it's not very great because they are going to be wondering how they are going to challenge him for years to come.

"When he does that dominant time trial performance as he has just now, in the mountains he is untouchable... where can you get him? Where can you break him?

Pogacar clinches Tour de France title with stunning sixth victory in Nice

"That is going to be in their minds. But of course, it is great for the viewers, and what a spectacle we had again today, and what a run we have had for the last three weeks.

"If you look at the history of the Tour de France, you had riders who were great climbers and they could take the advantage there, but in time trialling they were limited. Then the guys who were losing on the climbs were taking advantage on the time trials, and it evened out as such.

"But here, Pogacar is so good at everything, it is going to be a problem for the teams, and how do you build a team to try to challenge him? How do you take that from him and prevent him from winning the Tour de France next year and the year after?"

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Rowe offered a slightly more optimistic tone for Pogacar's rivals and suggested that there is a way in which the gaps could be narrowed, particularly given Vingegaard's recent fitness struggles.

"No one is going to become complacent and they will keep looking at the ways they can improve," she said.

"If Jonas can be in the shape he is now, under that limited preparation, what could he do next year without the injury with that trajectory?

"Remco has been remarkable and solid throughout, so these rivals are brilliant and do think the gaps can close."

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McEwen agreed, and said: "There is a valid question of whether Tadej can replicate this form again and again?

"Only time will tell if this was the best he ever was in his career. It remains very open and I'm not discouraged at all about any of his rivals going forward.

"It is an incredible rivalry, and one that is sure to live on for years to come. You can be absolutely sure that Jonas is already plotting his revenge for 2025."

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