Pogacar Extends Tour Lead with Bastille Day Win

Stage 10 Drama in Le Lioran

Tadej Pogacar turned a mountain stage on Bastille Day into a commanding solo effort, opening a three‑minute-plus gap over his closest challenger. The 166.6 km ride from Aurillac featured a final climb to Le Lioran, where the Slovenian rider broke clear with 15 km to go and held on to finish 32 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Jonas Vingegaard, who earlier beat Pogacar in a two‑man sprint in 2024, crossed the line 44 seconds behind, dropping to seventh place. The win padded Pogacar’s overall lead to 3 minutes 36 seconds in the general classification.

During the stage, French teenager Paul Seixas hoped to shine in front of home supporters, ultimately taking third spot just 34 seconds behind Evenepoel. Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz managed to drop clear on the Puy Mary, only for Pogacar to launch his decisive attack on the penultimate climb. The result marked Pogacar’s third stage victory of the 2024 Tour and his 24th career win on a Bastille Day stage.

Visma‑Lease a Bike’s Vingegaard admitted the day could have been worse for his team, noting his improving fitness ahead of longer climbs. British rider Tom Pidcock, who crashed on the Puy Mary descent, recovered to finish ninth and climb into 10th overall. The stage also highlighted the intense competition for positions deeper in the standings, with several riders gaining or losing ground in a relatively short period.

Podium Quotes Capture The Mood

Four‑time Tour winner Pogacar said, “We targeted this stage from a long time ago.” He recalled that two years earlier Jonas had claimed a fair sprint victory, and today his legs were “completely destroyed,” yet he still enjoyed the effort. Vingegaard’s pragmatic response was, “It was an OK day for us, it could be a lot worse, that’s for sure,” while hinting at his improving condition.

Pogacar also addressed the radio issue that left him unsure of the gap on the final kilometers. “I lost communications with 10 km remaining because we tried new radios,” he explained, adding that the uncertainty only fueled his drive to push toward the top. He thanked fans, even those who booed, saying the noise gave the riders extra power. His broader ambition remains clear: he is chasing a record‑tying fifth Tour title while keeping an eye on the Vuelta a España, the only Grand Tour he has yet to win.

Fans Fuel Pogacar’s Finish

A section of spectators at the Le Lioran finish line erupted in boos as Pogacar pushed to the line, prompting discussion about his dominance. The Slovenian dismissed the notion that he was forcing the result, pointing to the communication breakdown rather than any intentional show of strength. His team, UAE Team Emirates‑XRG, indicated the stage was a tactical target long before race day.

Beyond the on‑bike drama, the stage underscored how early Tour success can shape a rider’s season. By securing a substantial lead now, Pogacar positions himself for potential fresh efforts in the Vuelta, while rivals like Vingegaard and Evenepoel continue to battle for podium spots. The interaction between athlete and audience added an emotional layer to what was otherwise a technically demanding mountain segment.

Stage 10 Results

• Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) – 3 h 58 m 08 s

• Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe) – +32 s

• Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon‑CMA CGM) – +34 s

• Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe) – Same time

• Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl‑Trek) – +38 s

• Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl‑Trek) – Same time

• Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma‑Lease a Bike) – +44 s

• Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) – +1 min 31 s

• Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello‑Q36.5) – +1:59

• Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain‑Victorious) – +2:03

General Classification after Stage 10

• Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) – 36 h 15 m 02 s

• Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma‑Lease a Bike) – +3 m 36 s

• Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe) – +4 m 06 s

• Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl‑Trek) – +4 m 22 s

• Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon‑CMA CGM) – +4 m 35 s

• Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe) – +4 m 44 s

• Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) – +5 m 08 s

• Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl‑Trek) – +5 m 45 s

• Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain‑Victorious) – +6 m 34 s

• Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello‑Q36.5) – 11 m 49 s