News | Tour de France • September 16, 2020
Pogačar defends podium and moves into polka-dot jersey
Third place for the Slovenian of the UAE Team Emirates, now 57 " behind Roglic
In addition to the consistency shown throughout the Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar showed on the brutal slopes of the Col de la Loze that he was also a fighter with great determination, qualities that allowed him to grab the polka dot jersey of the best climber of the race.
The 17th stage of the Grande Boucle, 170 km starting from Grenoble and finishing on the Col de la Loze via the Col de la Madeleine, saw the protagonists of the general classification rise to the top. Stage success went to Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), 2nd at 15 ”Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and 3rd Tadej Pogačar (+30”).
The long and treacherous final climb (21.4 km with an average gradient of 7.7% and sections over 20%) progressively split the group of riders in the general classification. The selection, where the excellent performance of David De La Cruz, able to lead the leading squad before Lopez jumped with the winning attack 2 km from the finish.
Pogačar fought stubbornly to narrow the gap from Roglic, who set out in pursuit of the Colombian.
In the general classification, Roglic extends his advantage over Pogačar to 57″, with Lopez 3rd at 1’26″ from the yellow jersey; Pogačar continues to lead in the young rider rankings (+ 3’21 “on Enric Mas – Movistar) and in that of climbers + 3 points on Roglic).
Pogačar: “I lost a few seconds on what was a really hard climb. I gave my best, the team gave their best and we got third place on the day to show for it. Tomorrow we will be ready for another very tough stage and then there will also be the time trial on Saturday, the Tour is not over and anything can still happen “.
The Tour de France will continue on stage 18 on another suitable day for the climbers: the Meribel-La Roche sur Foron with 5 classified climbs, the most demanding of which is the Montèe du Plateau de Glières, 6.1 km with an average gradient of 10.9% and a 1,500-metre dirt track in view of the brow, located 30 km from the finish).
Stage 17 results:
1. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) 4:49:08
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) @ 15″
3. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) @ 30″
General classification after the 17th stage:
1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 74:56:04
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) @ 57″
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) @ 1’26″
