On another level: Tadeg Pogacar time trial masterclass stuns rivals, deepens Tour de France gap

Peyragudes, France: Rivals were left in awe and damage control mode as Tadej Pogacar turned in one of the most dominant performances of this year’s Tour de France on Friday, crushing the competition in a gruelling uphill time trial and stretching his overall lead to more than four minutes.

The reaction was swift and honest.

“He’s just on another level right now,” said Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second on the day but couldn’t keep pace once the road tilted sharply toward Peyragudes. “Yesterday was one of my worst performances, and today was one of my best. The Tour is far from over. We have to keep believing.”

That belief is becoming harder to sustain with each passing stage.

Pogacar, leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, was untouchable on the brutal 8km final climb, following a short flat section that already saw him put time into both Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. The Slovenian three-time Tour champion completed the stage 36 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and over a minute clear of Primoz Roglic.

“I really wanted to go all out from start to finish, smashing the pedals as much as possible,” Pogacar said after claiming his 21st career stage win at the Tour. “I almost blew out in the end, but I saw the time on the finish arch and it gave me an extra push.”

His rivals had no answer. Evenepoel, the time trial world champion, cracked on the climb and was overtaken by Vingegaard — despite starting two minutes ahead.

The Belgian admitted post-stage that he “didn’t have the legs today”, while his team focused on defending his third place in the general classification. He now sits 7:24 behind Pogacar, with Germany’s Florian Lipowitz just six seconds behind him and breathing down his neck.

Even more remarkable, Pogacar chose instinct over technology — opting not to use his race radio.

“I suffered a bit with three kilometres to go,” he said. “I took a deep breath and recovered some power because I knew the last kick was super steep and I wanted to have somewhat good legs.”

Friday’s result only built on Pogacar’s clinical stage win on Hautacam 24 hours earlier, where he had already reclaimed the yellow jersey and shown signs of his superior climbing form.

Despite the growing gap in the general classification — now 4 minutes and 7 seconds — Pogacar is staying cautious.

“So far, so good,” he said. “We’re just a bit over halfway now and it’s still a long way to Paris, but if we keep riding like this and don’t make any mistakes, we can be satisfied with this margin.”

Saturday offers no respite. Stage 14 from Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères features four major climbs, ending with a punishing 12km uphill finish. Riders are bracing for another round of attrition.

But the gap Pogacar has carved is becoming more psychological than numerical.

“He’s making the rest of us race for second,” a rival team director was overheard saying post-stage. And as things stand, the yellow jersey may be fast becoming a one-man affair.

— With inputs from AP