PARIS – Tadej Poga?ar demonstrated his undeniable prowess as he charged to victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné, a significant achievement as he gears up for his Tour de France defense. The cyclist from UAE Team Emirates maintained control throughout the 133-kilometer (83-mile) final stage from Val-d’Arc to the challenging ascent of the Plateau du Mont-Cenis, completing the race 59 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonas Vingegaard.
Reflecting on his team’s efforts, Poga?ar remarked, “Once again today, the team did a great job. We managed to defend the jersey and we can go home happy and prepare for the Tour.” As he sets his sights on claiming a fourth Tour de France title in July, the Slovenian cyclist remains a formidable contender.
During Sunday’s concluding stage, Poga?ar matched the time of his key rival, Jonas Vingegaard of the Visma-Lease a Bike team, who boasts the accolade of being a two-time Tour champion. Lenny Martinez, racing for Bahrain Victorious, clinched victory in the final stage, completing it in 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 18 seconds. Martinez crossed the finish line 34 seconds ahead of both Vingegaard and Poga?ar, with the stage’s endpoint perched atop the shared territory of the French-Italian border.
Throughout the race, Poga?ar met Vingegaard’s challenges with composure, especially during the demanding climb to Col du Mont-Cenis. The event serves as crucial preparation for Tour contenders. Poga?ar secured the opening stage, outpacing both Vingegaard and Mathieu van der Poel in a display of tactical brilliance.
Dominating the competition, Poga?ar further solidified his lead by triumphing in the sixth stage, conquering the climb solo and surpassing Vingegaard by 1:01. This victory granted him a 43-second overall lead over his Danish counterpart. Saturday’s seventh stage mirrored his earlier success, as Poga?ar increased his lead by another 14 seconds, stretching his advantage to 1:01.
In addition to the race excitement, the event marked the final professional outing for Romain Bardet, a respected cyclist retiring from the sport. Bardet, a notable figure in cycling, notably finished second in the 2016 Tour.