Tadej Pogačar is on the verge of securing his fourth Tour de France title after successfully completing the penultimate stage on Sunday morning (AEST), maintaining a substantial lead over rivals, notably Jonas Vingegaard.
In a thrilling display, Australian cyclist Kaden Groves clinched victory in stage 20 with an impressive late solo breakaway. Groves surged ahead 16 kilometres from the finish line, ultimately claiming his first stage win at the Tour and his tenth overall in major races, including two victories at the Giro d’Italia and seven at the Vuelta a España. Following the race, an emotional Groves reflected on his achievement, stating, “Winning here is such a mix of emotions… After my successes in the Giro and the Vuelta, the question of my capability to win at the Tour has always lingered, and now I’ve proven myself.”
Groves finished the stage 54 seconds ahead of Frank van den Broek and 59 seconds clear of Pascal Eenkhoorn. Meanwhile, Pogačar retained a commanding lead of four minutes and 24 seconds over Vingegaard, with German cyclist Florian Lipowitz well behind in third, trailing Pogačar by 11 minutes and three seconds.
Unless he faces a severe mishap or illness, Pogačar is heavily favoured to celebrate winning on Sunday, which would see him equal the record set by British rider Chris Froome with four Tour titles. This victory would also mark his fifth Grand Tour triumph following his dominant win at the Giro d’Italia last year. Pogačar commented on his confidence, saying, “I am quite certain of my overall victory, but I prefer to remain focused until I cross the finish line in Paris.”
He eloquently highlighted the beauty of the sport, noting the camaraderie among the 180 riders who navigate challenging terrain before culminating in the vibrant streets of a major city.
However, the final stage is anticipated to be anything but straightforward, deviating from the usual ceremonial atmosphere often seen. Pogačar pointed out the challenges that lie ahead, stating, “I’m uncertain about how the final stage will unfold. It’s relatively short, which will make it a demanding race.” With three successive climbs towards the end, the climax of this year’s Tour promises to be an exhilarating conclusion.