The Slovenian cycling professional Tadej Pogacar won the first stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné tour. His closest competitor Jonas Vingegaard showed himself a strong form after his injury task at Paris-Nice.
The 26-year-old Pogacar also set an example on the first exchange of blows of the favorites for the Tour de France, which begins on July 5 in Lille. “I wouldn’t have expected that. I actually thought I was already in the shower”said Pogacar before the award ceremony: “The Dauphiné is already a success for me. My form is obviously good, but the real test only comes in the mountains.”
Pogacar and Vingegaard satisfied with their constitution
The Dane Vingegaard paid respect to his permanent rival of the past few years: “Tadej was just faster, congratulations on him. That should have been the first time that I became second in a mass sprint. I am still very satisfied.” Third, the Dutch Mathieu van der Poel. Last year Primoz Roglic won the important preparatory race after eight intensive stages.
A few kilometers before the finish line, Pogacar and Vingegaard, the Tour de France winner of the past few years, together with Van der Poel, the fourth-placed Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) and Santiago Buidrago (Colombia) had settled. “Two kilometers before the finish I set myself on the sprint and it worked”said Pogacar.
Fingering towards Tour de France
Due to the time bonification, the Slovenian leads over 205 kilometers from Prémilhat to Issoire with a four -second lead on the Danes as the leader of the overall ranking on Monday.