Pogačar conquers the Col du Portet in stage 17 of the Tour de France

On the queen stage of this Tour de France, 178.4km from Muret to the top of Col du Portet at 2,200 meters above sea level, Tadej Pogačar once again showed his class, taking his second stage victory in the 2021 edition of the Grande Boucle .

The race saw the men in the general classification control the initial stages, with UAE Team Emirates protecting and escorting the Yellow Jersey to the slopes of Col du Portet, a 16.3 km climb with peaks of 10% gradient.

Halfway through the last climb, Pogačar attacked, with only Vingegaard (Team Jumbo-Visma) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers)able to follow.

With 2km to go Carapaz launched a decisive attack but was unable to shake off Pogačar.
On the final metres the trio reunited with Pogačar launching the final sprint which earned him not only the stage but precious seconds over his rivals in the general classification.

Tadej Pogačar: “Today the team did a great job, checking the breaks as always and allowing me to arrive as rested as possible to the final climbs. In the last 8km I tried to attack several times, but Vingegaard and Carapaz really pushed me and made me work to get this victory. With Vingegaard we understood that Carapaz would try to surprise us, so I was careful and then ready to launch the final sprint in the last 50 meters ”.

Tomorrow the last mountain stage is scheduled. “Only” 130km with the ascents to the Col du Tourmalet (17.1km at 7.3%) and the arrival in Luz Ardiden (13.3km at 7.4%).