Special envoy to Méribel
In the terrible Loze pass, spectacular epilogue of the 17th stage of the Tour won this Wednesday by Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez, Tadej Pogacar, less prominent than in recent days has been able to attack.
He got caught up in the wheel of the best but could not fight for the stage victory or for the conquest of the yellow jersey.
If the leader of the UAE Team Emirates took advantage of the day to adorn himself with a new jersey, that of the best climber after that of the best youngster, he gave 15 seconds to his compatriot Primoz Roglic.
Still 2nd in the general classification, he is now 57 '' from the yellow jersey.
"The objective is always the general classification."
Tadej Pogacar
The privilege of his lively 21 years, he did not put aside his hopes: “The finish ramp was very violent.
I lost a handful of seconds.
I would have liked to win but I'm happy with the result.
The Tour is not over.
A gap of 57 seconds is still doable.
Anything can happen, I can lose the podium, I can win, it's going to be a good fight.
Tomorrow (this Thursday during the 18th stage between Méribel and La Roche-sur-Foron; 175 km bristling with 5 climbs), it will be another complicated day.
But, whatever happens, I think we can be very happy with what we did.
The polka dot jersey?
I saw at the top of the Col de la Madeleine that there were points to be taken, I went there.
If I am in a position to keep this polka dot jersey, I would be very happy.
But the objective is always the general classification. ”
Roglic does not boast
Primoz Roglic (2nd of the stage) comes out of the dreaded test of the Col de la Loze reinforced but he avoids plastron.
Aware that on this Tour mistakes pay for themselves.
Asked whether he had definitively ruled out the threat of his young rival, the Yellow Jersey quickly decided: “I don't think so.
There are still some very hard stages, even if that makes it one less.
Tadej is an excellent climber.
This climb today is unlike any other: the last kilometers were really brutal.
I'm glad she's behind us.
You never have enough head start, you always want more.
But I'm happy with every second of the extra advantage.
I was satisfied with my position before the stage, so I am even more so now. "
Before the parade on the Champs-Elysées, this Sunday, they have three stages left to decide.
They whom their many supporters unite in their encouragement on the roads of a Tour they dominate ...
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