Pogacar recovers and takes the victory in the Vosges

Pogacar gives his team a stage victory after beating Vingegaard in the final sprint. The Slovenian arrived in time to recover and leave the Tour with a slightly less bitter taste in his mouth than the one he experienced a few days ago on the Col de la Loze. Ciccone is proclaimed King of the Mountains and Adam Yates takes the third step of the podium.

Pogacar beats Vingegaard in the final sprint to win the stage

The 110th Tour de France offered us a tough mountain stage to put the icing on the cake of a sensational edition before bringing the curtain down until next July. The riders faced a final agonizing effort: 133.5 kilometers but with six climbs, among which the last two, of first category, stood out.

With the overall in Vingegaard's favor, there were still some questions to be answered: the fight for the podium, the mountains jersey and the possible express recovery of Pogacar that would allow him to close the race with a victory for his team.

The stage started with Campenaerts and De Bruyst as protagonists. A few pedal strokes had passed when some riders were already beginning to lose meters with the peloton, a symptom of a day, once again, with a very high pace that forced to sweat from very early. However, the movements at the front of the group were quickly neutralized and everything went on without major news.

Carlos Rodriguez crash in which Sepp Kuss was involved. The rider from Granada - 1 minute and 16 seconds from the podium - went to the asphalt on a corner and, although he was able to continue, the bruises and blows to his face, arms and legs were evident. For his part, the American requested medical assistance.

It was an important moment when the front group was formed without the presence of Pogacar but with eighteen riders; Vingegaard, Pidcock, Kung, Powless, Van Baarle, Landa, Ciccone, Ion Izagirre or Van der Poel, among them. Almost immediately, Pedersen put in more pace and Ciccone, Neilands, Powless and Landa followed in his wake to open up a gap.

Doctors attended to Carlos Rodriguez while Vingegaard, Van Baarle and Kwiatkowski rejoined the peloton. Heads up for the 15 riders in the breakaway.

After passing the Ballon d'Alsace, the riders reached the Col de la Croix des Moinats and, with almost no time to digest it, began to climb the Col de Grosse Pierre. The stage was (relatively) calm with two groups at the front: Pidcock, Pinot, Skjelmose, Ciccone, Neilands, Barguil and Van Gils on one side; and the favorites 20 seconds behind.

The escapees suffered some casualties and added some new ones -Vermaeke, Madouas, Urán-. In the end it was down to ten riders, while behind there was only the peloton, which was then around 1'16".

With kilometers still to go, the focus was on the last two climbs of the day, both first category: Petit Ballon (9.3 km at 8.1%) and Col du Platzerwasel (7.1 km at 8.3%). Meanwhile, Ciccone was proclaimed winner of the Mountain jersey.

Pinot attacked with 31 to go. The Frenchman went into action and went one more gear to leave behind his breakaway companions: Pidcock, Madouas, Ciccone, Harper and Barguil. The stage remained wide open with the peloton just over a minute back and a chasing group about 30 seconds behind.

Pinot pedaled hard to reach the top of the climb solo and take the descent with half a minute to spare. Gaudu went to the ground moments before the leaders started on the Platzerwasel.

Pogacar attacked with just over 13 kilometers to go. The Slovenian changed the pace and Vingegaard replied without showing a single expression on his face. The two beasts stopped and Gall took advantage of the break to join them.

The trio gradually closed the gap on the other trio ahead of them. They were chased down and Gall made a spur with legs that had watts to spare. Vingegaard and Pogacar joined in the push, while Pidcock also did so but eventually gave up after a few meters. Gall continued to pull hard, while the yellow jersey was on his back and Pogacar was bringing up the rear.

The kilometers were consumed between columns of fans who tirelessly cheered the three riders who were going to decide the stage in the last meters. They crowned. No attacks. 8 kilometers to the finish.

The Yates brothers made contact with them with just over 4 kilometers to go. Pogacar added one more card to his chances of victory, although no one knew how fresh each of them was. As expected, everything was going to be resolved in the sprint: Yates in front to open the way for Pogacar.

Vingegaard passed them on the inside with the skill of a juggler and pushed like an animal. Pogacar did the same and the two went parallel before the Slovenian's bike pulled ahead, Vingegaard threw in the towel and Pogacar said goodbye to the Tour with a win.

Adam Yates finished third overall. Carlos Rodríguez missed out on the podium, but had a first Tour to remember, even more so after the crash that left him with serious bruises all over his body.