Amazing performance by Tadej Pogacar in the Alps. The Slovenian regains the lead

The first mountain stage of the Tour de France 2024 did not disappoint, with the arrival of the race in French lands through the Alps on a short but tremendously tough day, with the fearsome Galibier, on its less steep side, as the judge of a stage in which Pogacar dispelled doubts about his recovery after the Giro and Vingegaard created doubts about his form after the crash in Itzulia.

UAE Team Emirates separates the wheat from the chaff on the Galibier

First contact with the mountains of the Tour de France 2024 that arrived unusually early for what the Grande Boucle usually does, and it did so without half measures, seeking the natural passage through the Alps between Italy and France with iconic names in the history of the French race such as Sestrieres, Montgenevre, and the mythical Galibier, names that are part of the iconography of the Tour de France.

To avoid a massacre from the start, the Tour de France 2024 had scheduled a short stage in length, just 136 km, but very well linked to generate wear and tear throughout the week and a downhill finish that we always defend for the excitement it usually brings compared to mountain-top finishes.

As expected, the breakaway of the day was highly sought after and it took almost 40 kilometers, already in the climb to Sestrieres, for a breakaway with 17 cyclists to form, among whom we would highlight Bruno Armirail, David Gaudu, Oier Lazkano, Raúl García Pierna, Cristian Rodríguez, Warren Bargil, Lutsenko, and a Mathieu van der Poel who was stepping out of his comfort zone in his task of seeking the best form for the Olympics.

The gap of the escapees was consolidated on the ascent to Montgenevre, although with a UAE Team Emirates leading the peloton, keeping the situation under control. Nevertheless, the pace was very high, and proof of this was that the peloton passed this second mountain difficulty with barely 50 riders, even fewer when UAE Team Emirates increased the pace during a moment of the descent trying to surprise.

The escapees passed by Briançon with just a 2-minute advantage and the road began to incline to reach the more than 2,600 meters of altitude of the Galibier. The first part of the climb, up to the Col de Lautaret, was gentle and very fast, where the headwind condemned any minimal chances the breakaway might have. Despite this, the escapees showed their determination and attacked each other trying to find a winning move, with Oier Lazkano being particularly strong and ultimately being the last to give in to the push of the select group of favorites.

UAE Team Emirates started the first part of the climb setting a high pace with Nils Politt, who was followed by a fantastic Tim Wellens, after which, already crowned at Lautaret and entering the high mountain road that leads to the Galibier, it was Marc Soler who accelerated the pace.

A perfect plan that left casualties with every passing meter, starting with leader Richard Carapaz. When Sivakov took the lead. UAE Team Emirates' work, with an increasing pace, eliminated Matteo Jorgenson and Enric Mas shortly after.

A super-select group remained at the front, where, for a short stretch, Primoz Roglic was seen suffering greatly, almost getting dropped, but pulling through with determination. And it seemed that this was how the ascent to the Galibier would end as the kilometers passed and the situation stabilized.

Not many expected, well, considering it's Tadej Pogacar, that at that point the attack from the Slovenian would come, some gesture, some grimace would be seen, just after passing by the mouth of the tunnel that crosses the summit of the Galibier from below, with just over 800 meters ahead to reach the top, he launched a furious attack to which only Jonas Vingegaard managed to respond, quite convincingly.

Nevertheless, Tadej Pogacar did not ease off the accelerator, surely having learned a lesson from last year's Tour de France. The Slovenian maintained the intensity, suffocating his rival, and at the exit of a very tough curve, where they were forced to brake, a sign of the absurdly high climbing speed, Pogacar started with strength and managed to open a gap of one meter, two, three... and created a small distance that boosted his morale and effort.

On his part, Jonas Vingegaard fought hard not to let the initial small gap widen, and after a couple of kilometers of descent, Pogacar caught his breath and returned to being the excellent descender he is known for, pushing the narrow road practically from ditch to ditch. This situation soon began to reflect in the time shown on the race's GPS, gradually increasing the gap.

Meanwhile, behind, just 15 seconds behind Vingegaard, the rest of the riders from the leading group had reached the top, including Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida, Mikel Landa, Remco Evenepoel, Carlos Rodríguez, and Primoz Roglic. The most skilled riders stood out in the descent thanks to the push from a huge Carlos Rodríguez, while Remco struggled to keep up with Roglic and Ayuso who were chasing him.

An excellent descent by Carlos Rodríguez allowed him to catch up with Jonas Vingegaard, something that the rest of the riders would also achieve, while Tadej Pogacar continued descending without hesitation, consolidating a lead that not only secured him the stage victory but also regained the yellow jersey of the Tour de France 2024, positioning himself as the top contender for the overall victory.

After this first stage, in which the winner of the Tour de France 2024 has not been decided, there are already several riders who are discarded from being anywhere near the podium. The time trial next Friday will be the next major focus of attention in the race, where we will see if Remco Evenepoel can make the most of his status as the top time trial specialist among those at the front and confirm the sensations of today's stage, which surely dispelled many of the high mountain ghosts that haunted him after last year's Vuelta. On the other hand, it will also serve to confirm the level of Roglic and Vingegaard, as well as to assess the chances of being at the top for a Carlos Rodríguez who, without making much noise, does not fail in decisive moments and also presents his candidacy for the podium.

Stage 4 Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 3h46'38''
2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) +35''
3. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +35''
4. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +35''
5. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +37''
6. Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers) +37''
7. Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) +53''
8. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +53''
9. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +2'41''
10. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +2'41''

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 19h06'38''
2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) +45''
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +50''
4. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +1'10''
5. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +1'14''
6. Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers) +1'16''
7. Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) +1'32''
8. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +1'32''
9. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +3'20''
10. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +3'21''