Nth hit on Pogacar’s table in Paris-Nice

Tadej Pogacar add more. The Slovenian signed a new exhibition this Saturday at seventh stage of Paris-Nicewhere he won a direct duel against Jonas Vingegaard and David Gaudu to consolidate his leadership in the general classification. The Slovenian is done with him second win episode of the week to deliver another direct blow to his Danish rival in one of the first big tests of the season.

is adding up seven victories this 2023, where he shows himself to be unshakable and almost invincible in the mountains. This was shown by Pogacar in the seventh episode that started on Nice and graduated to Col de la Couillole, with 144 kilometers, high end and two first class ports after an unexpected break the day before. Pogacar attacked in the last kilometerswas reached first by Gaudu and then by Vingegaard and finished in the last meter to add to his professional streak of 53.

This is a stage called to be decided on difficult Col de la Couillole in the last meters, with ten kilometers of ascent and favorable terrain for attacks on the general’s staff. This is the case in a day controlled from behind by UAE Emirates and Ineoswhich allowed a large group to set up in front of the stage when they were over forty.

Nineteen men took the lead, though fell Joshua Tarling (Ineos) knocked him out. among the fugitives, javier romo (Astana), Remi Cavagna (Soudal Quick-Step), Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), gregor muhlberger (Movistar) and david de la cruz (Astana), among others. The first difficulty of the day came on the climb to Tourette-du-Château, where the group strengthened while behind controlled distances of less than three minutes.

It was on the descent to the flat section, although there were a few ramps, on the road between the two lanes when Ineos began to accelerate from behind. First, the group is chosen together. The tension was at its highest and, looking for a good position to face the final climb to Couillole, thomas degendt (Lotto Dstny) suffered a fall in which he dragged some members of that core group.

The main men of the race were not among them, who saw how Jumbo-Visma added something in the peloton as the group at the front slowly disintegrates. He is leading the race kobe​​​​goossens (Interarché-CIrcus-Wanty) with javier romo (Astana), although they were gradually losing meters until the peloton swallowed them up.

There were still nine kilometers to go when the favorites took the lead. This is the moment to test the legs of rivals and the first to do it is Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian from the UAE launched his first attack with just over five kilometers to go. answered David Gaudú (Groupama-FDJ), which is chasing him. did not lose hope Jonas Vingegaardwho set his pace to, little by little, reduce the few seconds achieved by his greatest rival.

This is a definition through three-way stages and Pogacar again showed his great form. Despite a final attack attempt by Vingegaard, the double Tour de France champion let go of his rivals in the final meters to raise his arms again at the finish line and keep his rivals in the standings.. Gaudu was 12 seconds behind, with Vingegaard on 58in the absence of final stage this Sunday.

In it they wait 118.4 kilometers on another hard day in Nice, with three second-class climbs in the first part of the stage (Levens, Colombier and Berre-les-Alpes) and two first in the second half (Peille and Èze, it has six kilometers at 7.6%). Everything indicates that it will be on this last climb when the final battle for the stage and for the general will come, before the fifteen kilometers of descent to the finish line.