Tadej Pogačar in the race through Romandie with excellent driving he came to his 115th victory in his career and up to third at this year’s edition of the race through the French part of Switzerland. Today, in the Gruyère region, otherwise known mainly for cheese, he beat a German in a great mood on the royal stage Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) and increased his lead in the overall classification.
After the stage, the Slovenian looked quite tired. He was proud of his UAE team Emirates-XRG, who perfectly controlled a strong escape that included his compatriot Primož Roglič and the French mountaineer Valentin Paret-Peintre. “The day was marked by excellent teamwork. We wanted to get over the first two climbs with all seven riders so that we could later attack for the stage win. The first two hours were very difficult, but we managed to catch the fugitives,” said Pogačar.
Primož Roglič is not in the best mood at the race through Romandia. His main goal for the season is the Tour of Spain, but it’s unclear if we’ll see him in another race before late summer. PHOTO: Ander Gillenea/AFP
The Emirates team thus dashed the dreams of Primož Roglič, who, despite his poor form, wants to achieve a more resounding result in Switzerland. Today he was caught just under twenty kilometers before the finish, and then rode well in the first chase group. Valentin Paret-Peintre, who stayed with the Slovene in the osprey the longest, also spoke at the finish line about the organizer’s possible bias towards Tadej Pogačar.
We are used to watching Dom Novak at the head of the peloton, but this year he seems to be in a particularly good mood. PHOTO: Maarten Straetemans/AFP
“I hope today the motorcyclists were not too close to the main body. In the last two days, it was like that. But anyway, if the organizers want Pogačar’s victory, that’s their choice. We have already highlighted this several times, but such is life,” said the Frenchman. It is true that this year the organizers lost the main sponsor of the race through Romandie and that the good performances of the world’s number one cyclist bring them good publicity, but if they are cheering the rhythm at the head Vegard Stake Længen and Dolenj tractor Domen Novak, then the fugitives have no chance of success.
Tomorrow will still be hot, Pogačar on a slimming diet?
Although Tadej Pogačar achieved a big stage victory, Florian Lipowitz also proved himself. “On the final straight, it would definitely have been easier if Florian Lipowitz was with me, because he was chasing me quite well. He tortured me more on the final straight than on the climb,” admitted the world champion at the finish line.
Alongside Tadej Pogačar, his public relations representative Luke Maguire and masseur Žiga Jerman are always at the races this year. PHOTO: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP
After the classics, where he had to fight with much heavier and muscular cyclists, he himself “gained weight” in the hunt for better results, so the numbers on the climbs are not yet at their peak. “I won’t deny that I’m heavier than usual, but I feel good on the bike. That’s the most important thing for me. Before the classics, I also got a little carried away in fitness, which I have grown to like a little too much, so now I will avoid it for a while,” he said with a laugh at the finish line.
Tomorrow, the cyclists will have the last stage with the finish at the Leysin climb (14.3 km, 5.9%), where once again interesting battles can be expected in the hunt for the last changes in the general classification. Lipowitz is 35 seconds behind Pogačar, and the battle for third place will be much more tense – Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) is only seven seconds ahead Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike).
