Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard may be locked on the exact same overall time after four stages of the Tour de France, but the Slovenian has already struck an early psychological blow. In a stage that culminated in a 300-metre sprint to the line in Les Angles, Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG seized control of the race when there was no pressing need to attack.
Dominant Sprint Sends a Warning
The distance Pogacar put into his rivals in that short, explosive effort was highly impressive. According to race observers, his acceleration left his closest competitors struggling to respond, reinforcing his status as the man to beat. The performance looked imperious and ominous ahead of the tougher mountain stages that lie ahead.
Jeremy Whittle, reporting from the race, noted that Pogacar's 22nd career Tour stage win immediately sparked talk of him closing in on Mark Cavendish's all-time record of 35 stage victories. However, the Slovenian was quick to bat away such speculation.
Pogacar Dismisses Record Talk
“It’s still far away,” Pogacar said after the stage. “Maybe today was my last victory ever. I prefer to stay in the moment and enjoy this victory. I don’t want to think about Mark’s record. Just go with the flow.”
The win came despite challenging conditions, as wildfire restrictions forced organisers to alter the route and the finish area in Les Angles was largely deserted of fans. Pogacar rose above those circumstances to claim the yellow jersey, setting up a fascinating battle with Vingegaard as the race heads into the high mountains.
