Tadej Pogačar Claims Impressive Win in Stage 13 of Tour de France

Share this @internewscast.com

Tadej Pogačar achieved a dominant win in a challenging uphill time trial during the 13th stage of the Tour de France on Friday, extending his overall lead to over four minutes.

Jonas Vingegard and Remco Evenepoel managed to maintain their positions within the top three overall standings, but Pogačar, the defending champion, showcased an impressive performance with his second consecutive commanding victory in two days.

Pogačar, the last of the 171 cyclists to start, amazed competitors by choosing a regular road bike over the specialized time trial bikes typically used.

“I find it more comfortable and use it 95% of the year,” he stated. “I also opted out of using a radio, relying on the time clocks positioned along the route.”

Reigning champion

Decked out in his overall leader’s yellow kit, the 26-year-old Team UAE rider was faster from the off, despite his exertions from the previous day, when he finished over two minutes ahead of main rival Vingegaard.

“I was feeling good all day, from when I got up. I was planning to go all in from start to finish and that’s what I did,” Pogačar said.

Pogačar won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

Pogačar had a sticker of the Hulk comic book superhero on his bike but said after the stage his hero was Spider-Man.

“Hulk though, he’s the one you don’t want to make angry,” said Pogačar.

Upon completing stage 13 at the Peyragudes Altiport, famously featured in the opening scene of the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, Pogačar was 36 seconds faster than Vingegaard, with Primoz Roglic trailing at 1 minute and 20 seconds behind.

Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard rides through the 13th stage of the 112th Tour de France cycling event. Source: AFP / Anne-Christine Poujoulat

Evenepoel was overtaken close to the line by Vingegaard, but said he was too tired to care.

“I was drained,” he said, slumped in a chair. “I didn’t give a damn when Jonas went past.”

“I just wanted to finish. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over,” said the double Olympic champion.

Most riders warmed up for the time trial wearing ice jackets to combat the sizzling 30C temperature at the foot of the climb.

Australian champion Luke Plapp set the early pace and sat in the hot seat all day before suddenly packing his case and vacating it on seeing Vingegaard storm up the mountain.

Pogačar was even faster.

At 1580m altitude the ride remained beneath the clouds and below the treeline, but even atop the hill it was punishingly hot.

American Quinn Simmons gave hundreds of high-fives on the home straight as one of the rare riders appearing to enjoy the climb.

Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain.

It starts with the famous Col de Tourmalet and ends at the Luchon-Superbagneres ski resort.

Stage 15 is a hilly run to the walled city of Carcassonne but for Pogačar there remains the spectre of three more massive mountain stages in the final week.

There is also the prospect of potential chaos in Paris with three ascents of Montmartre’s old cobbled lanes on the final day.

The place to watch the 2025 Tour de France — live, free and exclusive — plus the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is right here on the SBS On Demand Hub.