Tadej Pogačar delivered another masterful performance on Friday, breaking the Alpe d’Huez climbing record previously held by Marco Pantani. Pogačar completed the climb in just 35 minutes and 27 seconds, showcasing one of the sport’s most impressive performances.
The day’s earlier events were marked by a contest between Richard Carapaz and Valentin Paret-Peintre for the polka dot jersey. Both were part of a large group that initially broke away, with Paret-Peintre claiming maximum King of the Mountain (KOM) points on the Col Bayard and Col du Noyer. Mads Pedersen took the intermediate sprint before the breakaway group pushed towards Alpe d’Huez.
Pogačar started the climb over three minutes behind the breakaway remnants. As the climb progressed, he joined Adam Yates, who had been strategically placed in the breakaway. Pogačar then forged ahead alone as he pursued a historic win.
With about 1.8 kilometers remaining, Pogačar caught up with Carapaz and Lenny Martinez. Martinez managed to stay close initially, but Pogačar’s acceleration with 800 meters left was unmatched. After the victory, Pogačar expressed his satisfaction, acknowledging he broke Pantani’s record but stating his primary focus was on winning the stage.
Lenny Martinez and Richard Carapaz were formidable competitors on the climb. Martinez’s efforts significantly improved his position in the general classification (GC), while Carapaz received the combativity award for his aggressive riding style. However, Pogačar’s relentless effort saw him conquer the stage.
Key Stage Results
- Stage 19 Top 10:
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – XRG (3:17:57)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) +6s
Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) +9s
Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1m 14s
Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +2m 7s
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) +2m 29s
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) – XRG +2m 41s
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl Trek) +2m 45s
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +2m 45s
Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team) +3m 22s - General Classification After Stage 19:
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – XRG (67:53:00)
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) +7m 11s
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) – XRG +9m 42s
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +10m 6s
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain – Victorious) +13m 00s
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl Trek) +13m 9s
Juan Ayuso (Lidl Trek) +15m 58s
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-Easypost) +21m 15s
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +21m 30s
Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) +23m 21s
Upcoming Stage 20
The next stage, taking place on Saturday, promises another challenging day. Riders will tackle the Col du Glandon/Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, and Col du Galibier before ascending Alpe d’Huez once more via the steep Col de Sarenne. With 5,600 meters of elevation gain, this stage offers no respite for the peloton.
Stage 19 demonstrated Pogačar’s incredible form and ability to dominate even the toughest climbs, setting the stage for exciting competition in the final stages of the Tour de France.