Pogačar makes Tour history on Luz Ardinen

Tadej Pogačar made Tour de France history on his way to winning stage 18 from Pau to Luz Ardinen, becoming the first rider ever to win back to back summit finishes in the yellow jersey.

After the success of yesterday on the Col du Portet, the leader of UAE Team Emirates also triumphed in Luz Ardiden having also climbing the Col du Tourmalet which came close to the halfway point.

The big names in the race came to fore on the final climb, 13.4 km at 7.5% average gradient where a sustained pace from Rafal Majka narrowed down the group. Pogačar made a move at -3.1 km, taking only Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Enric Mas (Movistar) with him. The quintet arrived in the last kilometre together before Pogačar made his move on the last ramp to arrive with a handful of seconds over his rivals.

The Slovenian consolidates his yellow jersey (5’45’’ up on Jonas Vingegaard, 2nd) and the white jersey of best youngster (Vingegaard at 5’45”), as well as jumping to the top of the mountain classification (107 points , Wout Poels is second with 29 points behind).

Pogačar: “The stage was very tough, already on the Tourmalet the pace was high. I concentrated and was waiting for the last climb, where I gave my all. I’m speechless. After what happened yesterday I’m so happy to have done it again.
As for Saturday’s time trial, I can say that time trials are a discipline in which I have always done quite well in, but it is also true that I can have a bad day, but I still have a good advantage in the standings, I am confident”.

Stage 19 features an undulating profile and will start from Mourenx and end in Libourne (207 km).

Stage 18 results Tour de France

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 3h33’45 “
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +2 ”
3. Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) s.t.

General classification after the 18th stage of the Tour de France
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 3h33’45 “
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) + 5’45 ”
3. Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) + 5’51 ”

The 2nd stage of the Settimana Ciclista Italiana, from Sassari to Oristano (185.5 km), also saw a leaders jersey for UAE Team Emirates and Diego Ulissi. The flat run-in saw Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) take the win ahead of Barnabas Peak (BikeExchange ).

Seventh place of the day went to Diego Ulissi, who is still in command of the general classification. The UAE Team Emirates captain will therefore wear the leader’s jersey also in the 3rd stage from Oristano to Cagliari (80.9 km), with the ascent of Villacidro after 59 km and the Genna and Bogai pass after 11.5 km.

Ulissi, who also celebrated his 32nd birthday today: “We controlled the race at the start, and then followed the pace of the Italian national team on the longest climb because they pushed very hard. We went on the defensive, then I was able to benefit from the help of some of my teammates, who came back along the descent, to keep the leader’s jersey “.

Stage 2 results Settimana Ciclista Italiana
1. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) 4h26’40 ”
2. Barnabas Peak (BikeExchange) s.t.
3. Sep Vanmarcke (Israel Start-Up) s.t.
7. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

General classification after the 2nd stage of the Tour de France
1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 8h07’01 “
2. Alberto Bettiol (Ef-Nippo) +4 ”
3. Sep Vanmarcke (Israel Start-Up) +6