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Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar minimized the significance of acquiring the yellow jersey, as Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel clinched an impressive victory in the fifth-stage time trial on Thursday morning AEST.
Pogacar, who began the day in second position, shared the same time as leader Mathieu van der Poel. He delivered an outstanding performance on the 33km course around Caen, finishing just 16 seconds behind the world and Olympic champion. This performance left Van der Poel and fellow competitor Jonas Vingegaard trailing behind.
The Slovenian, currently leading by 42 seconds over Evenepoel, with Vingegaard more than a minute back, is the first to wear all three major jerseys — the general classification, points, and king of the mountains — since Eddie Merckx did in the 1970s.
“I’m super happy with how I rode today — to be 16 seconds behind the world champion, the Olympic champion, the best time triallist in the world right now,” Pogacar said after the stage.
“It’s a very good day and I’m happy, but I’m just happy this day is over and we can keep the ball rolling in this Tour de France.
“The most important (jersey) is yellow, and the most important time to have it is on the Champs-Elysees at the finish line.
“Now, it’s not that important. It feels good, but the important thing is to have it in Paris.”
Evenepoel completed the route in 36 minutes and 42 seconds, averaging a remarkable speed of 54 km/h. Italian Edoardo Affini secured third place, trailing by 33 seconds.
It was Evenepoel’s second stage win on the Tour de France, having triumphed in the time trial in Gevrey-Chambertin last year on his debut in the Grande Boucle.
“I knew I had a good chance but, of course, the legs still have to be there and everything has to go to plan,” said Evenepoel whose Soudal Quick-Step teammate Tim Merlier won stage three two days ago.
“In the end I think it was pretty good. I didn’t really feel like I could go any faster, so I think in general I’m happy with the result.
“It’s a second stage win for our team, it’s super nice.
“As for me, I’ve taken a step towards the podium but there’s still a long way to go.”
‘Incredible’
Two-time winner Vingegaard, who began the day just eight seconds behind Van der Poel, had a poor day as the Dane could only finish 13th in the stage — one minute 21 seconds behind Evenepoel — to slip to one minute 13 seconds behind Pogacar in the new standings.
He drops to fourth overall, with local rider Kevin Vauquelin moving up to third after a hugely impressive ride that saw him finish fifth on the day.
“I’m over the moon, really,” said an emotional Vauquelin.
“I think I can only experience this once in my life. To see everyone looking at me, cheering me on, it’s incredible.
“For a 24 year old just starting out in the professional world, it’s just incredible.”
Dutchman Van der Poel also struggled to maintain the pace, coming in 18th, one minute 44 seconds behind the winner, dropping him down to sixth overall.
Evenepoel was the favourite to win the stage given his astonishing record in time trials.
The Flemish rider, who has been wearing a golden helmet since his Olympic double, is virtually invincible in this exercise.
Having won the last six time trial stages he has entered, and nine out of 12 since the start of 2024, Evenepoel marked his 64th career victory, with 21 of those triumphs in time trials.
Evenepoel was also impressed by the performance of Pogacar who was a distant third to the Belgian and Vingegaard in the time trial in the recent Criterium du Dauphine.
“Compared to the Dauphine, he took a big step forward. He showed that he’s in great form and that he’s the man to beat in this Tour.”
The next day serves up the second longest stage of this year’s Tour with 3,500 metres of elevation over a 201.5 kilometre route through Normandy which starts in Vauquelin’s home town of Bayeux and ends with a short, steep climb to the finish in Vire Normandie.
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