Special envoy to Laruns,
At the top of Orcières-Merlette (4th stage), they had signed an unprecedented double in Slovenia.
Primoz Roglic (30 years old; Jumbo-Visma) enforcing the birthright in front of Tadej Pogacar (21 years old; UAE Team Emirates).
Bis repetita, Pogacar ahead of Roglic this Sunday in Laruns, end of the 9th stage of the Tour de France, marking the exit from the Pyrenees, before the first day of rest, planted this Monday in La Rochelle, after a transfer by coach.
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Pogacar, Roglic, Hirschi ... What to remember from the 9th stage of the Tour
Tadej Pogacar incisive, on the attack on this Tour since he was trapped in the edge of the 7th stage leading to Lavaur (he had let slip 1'21 '') has further increased in the final leading to Laruns , including two sharp attacks in the Marie Blanque pass, the last difficulty of the day.
At the top of this pass, however, everything could have fallen to the ground, its wheel having touched that of… Roglic: “I made a small mistake in attention.
I thought I had let everyone go but Roglic was in my wheel, our wheels touched but everything is OK between us, we worked well until the end. ”
Last intense kilometers which allowed the hunting group (Bernal and Landa accompanying the two Slovenes) to come to break, in the sprint, the crazy day of Swiss Marc Hirschi who danced alone in the lead for 80 km.
"If you don't attack, you can't take time back." I was in a situation where I had to take more ”
Tadej Pogacar
With a bouquet in his arms and replaced in the general classification (7th to 44 '' from his compatriot), Tadej Pogacar announces: “I had nine fantastic days, I am happy.
I came for the general classification.
I lost a bit of time but that doesn't mean much.
If you don't attack, you can't take time back.
I was in a situation where I had to take it back.
In the next two weeks, there will be larger gaps.
If opportunities arise for wins, I'll take my chance. ”
And to announce: "This Tour will be more and more interesting."
Roglic: "A lot of things can still happen before Paris ..."
Primoz Roglic knows it, feels it, he will have to quickly savor this first yellow jersey, before struggling to defend it in a race of wear and tear, by elimination: “It's exceptional, every cyclist dreams of wearing the yellow jersey. at least one time.
It's a dream come true.
The whole team showed that they were very strong, they gave me this chance on a plateau.
We are only at the start of the Tour, we see runners exploding every day, going through the window.
What interests me is to go to the end.
We will have to stay focused. ”
The first 7 of the general classification are held in less than 45 seconds.
Among Primoz Roglic's most dangerous rivals are Egan Bernal (2nd at 21 ”) and… Tadej Pogacar (7th at 41”).
Roglic does not stand out between them: “Pogacar was the strongest in the sprint today (Sunday).
There are still many days ahead of us.
A lot of things can still happen before Paris… ”
Read also
General classification of the Tour de France 2020