“It’s just unbelievable. I’m literally shaking with emotion. What a day,” Evenepoel exclaimed, acknowledging the fierce competition from what he termed “the best rider of all time” in Pogačar, who maintained an extraordinary tempo on the final ascent.
Vingegaard’s Career-Altering Crash
While Vingegaard was sitting in second place overall, a fall in a curve 22 kilometers from the finish line ended his race. The crash, which he caused himself by slipping in a right turn at high speed, took down multiple riders. Among them was Isaac Del Toro, Pogačar’s loyal teammate, who managed to recover quickly and ultimately claimed the third position.
“It’s truly sad to see this happen,” Pogačar commented, reflecting on their competitive history since 2021. “We have gone head-to-head many times. At first, our relationship was not the best, but over the years, we became something like friends. The Tour will not be the same without him,” the four-time champion added.
Evenepoel’s Solid Position in Overall Standings
In the battle for the yellow jersey, Pogačar solidified his lead. Despite his dominant performance the previous day, he surprisingly missed out on his fifth stage win in this year’s Tour. Evenepoel, with a commendable effort, now finds himself 5 minutes behind Pogačar in the overall ranking, while Del Toro sits in third place, trailing by 5:58 minutes. Florian Lipowitz moved into fifth place, 6:48 minutes back from Pogačar and 1:48 behind Evenepoel.
“This is how it will go,” Lipowitz stated to ARD when asked if he would support Evenepoel. “I remain optimistic. It’s a long way, and tough days are ahead. The main goal is to have someone on the podium.” Both Lipowitz and Evenepoel started the Tour as co-captains for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, leading to some internal tensions after Evenepoel expressed dissatisfaction regarding Lipowitz’s lack of support on an earlier stage.
Controversy Surrounding Nighttime Doping Controls
Tensions arose concerning doping controls for both Pogačar and Vingegaard the night before the stage. “I only got four hours of sleep,” Pogačar shared with Eurosport before the 15th stage, explaining that he was tested at 5 AM. “I typically sleep late, but this was a significant shock.” As the reigning yellow jersey, he faces daily testing throughout the Tour.
Vingegaard also expressed his frustration, revealing that the International Testing Agency (ITA) had not allowed him much sleep. “This was a huge surprise for me,” he admitted. Pogačar even connected Vingegaard’s crash to the disrupted sleep caused by the controls. “After a night of ruined sleep, this could be part of it. His Tour is ruined. It’s truly sad,” he remarked, as he finished the stage second behind Evenepoel. Pogačar described the doping tests as “inhumane.”
As the cyclists prepare for the second and final rest day of the Tour, they will face a time trial around Lake Geneva followed by crucial mountain stages that may decide the general classification. As the Tour continues, Evenepoel is positioned as a significant favorite for the upcoming individual time trial on Tuesday.
