The scenes could not be extra completely different on a golden night in Good on a heat Sunday night. On one facet, cheers, water being thrown, plenty of hugs, an entire group carrying specifically designed t-shirts. On the opposite, silence, a phrase from a accomplice, and acceptance of disappointment. Because the Patrouille de France – the French Purple Arrows – flew overhead within the colors of the tricolor, the dichotomy was clear.
That is the cruelty of successful or shedding in particular person sport. It is all or nothing. Tadej Pogačar, after two consecutive editions the place he needed to take care of the ignominy of successful, was capable of lastly style victory once more on the Tour de France, whereas Jonas Vingegaard needed to stand there, watch his biggest rival rejoice.
It’s a reversal of how the final two editions have ended, with Pogačar licking his wounds whereas Vingegaard was triumphant. In 2022, after his first defeat, Pogačar promised “rather a lot had been discovered”. Final yr, after one other chastening efficiency, the UAE Workforce Emirates rider stated that he hoped to “come again stronger and with out damage”.
This was Pogačar, then, after classes had been discovered and he had strengthened, and with out damage. Is it that straightforward? To return from bitter disappointment in 2022 and 2023 to this dominant victory in 2024. Six stage wins. Three Tour triumphs on the age of 25. The Giro-Tour double. All of it looks as if rather a lot.
“This yr my preparation went actually easy,” Pogačar defined in his post-victory press convention. “In 2022 I had one dangerous day, Jumbo at the moment with Primož [Roglič] and Jonas and on a regular basis they cracked me actually good. They threw nice punches at me and I cracked. That was one dangerous day, one mistake, which I could not bounce again from.
“I used to be actually motivated to come back again in 2023. I began the season tremendous good… however then I crashed at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I broke my wrist, I began using the bike one month earlier than the Tour began, and it was s*** preparation. Ultimately I cracked mentally and bodily, and I used to be simply actually down from that. To bounce again this yr, with the proper preparation, I’m tremendous pleased that I might pull it off.”
The Slovenian, usually verbose and humorous, appeared misplaced for phrases, such was the size of his achievement: “It’s exhausting to explain how I really feel proper now. It’s all a bit loopy. The craziest emotions I‘ve had to date in biking, for me.”
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After two years of getting to look at from the opposite facet, it was clear that the comeback – the bounce again – meant rather a lot for Pogačar. The scenes on the rostrum, along with his entire group, appeared particularly poignant. Rather a lot had gone into this victory, even when it regarded like a canter on the finish.
It’s staggering, actually, to consider the achievement. Six stage wins on the Giro d’Italia, however six stage wins on the Tour de France, in opposition to the calibre of opposition he was going through, appears momentous.
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I feel this yr was actually particular for me, however coming into the Tour in opposition to Remco [Evenepoel], Jonas and Primož, and others,” Pogačar stated. “Expectations had been excessive for the massive showdown, massive battle on the Tour. I feel it was. We threw so many punches at one another within the race, everybody confirmed balls at one level, each single one of many riders, from first to final.
“It was an ideal present, however in the long run, I may be pleased and proud on the finish. I may be pleased and proud that I got here out of this a winner. It’s a wonderful second of biking, and this sort of competitors goes to enter the following years.”
To the informal viewer, it might need appeared that none of these punches actually landed. Pogačar was the most effective at first, and he was the most effective on the very finish. Six stage wins takes him into the highest 10 of all time, and he is solely simply getting began.
Sunday’s stage 21 was a working example of Pogačar’s dominance. He did not even put on overshoes in his time trial, and but he put over a minute into Vingegaard, the person who vanquished him within the time trial ultimately yr’s race. There may be not slowing down; he’s insatiable.
“I began with a superb feeling in Monaco, I used to be having fun with the crowds,” he defined. “I felt actually good on the climb, and once you practice for a Tour de France stage you wish to win it. I educated a lot on these roads that Urška [Žigart, his partner] sort of hated me for it.
“I used to be considering in my head that I wished to see how I might do, after so many days on this highway, doing recons so many instances. I wished to see I might do it, and within the meantime, I might nonetheless benefit from the crowds. They had been cheering full fuel, and so they gave me much more motivation to go quick right this moment.”
What’s subsequent for Pogačar? The Olympics beckons, as do the World Championships, each with programs which might be eminently winnable for the Slovenian. He is not completed elevating his fingers in victory but. There will probably be no Vuelta a España this yr, however he will certainly attempt to win it within the subsequent couple of years, after which there are the excellent Monuments. He stated on French TV that he fancied a go Paris-Roubaix, and Milan-San Remo could be very a lot in his wheelhouse.
He says he would not care about information, however is clearly simply determined to win all of it. “I don’t prefer to see myself within the information, statistics, historical past,” he stated. “Possibly in 30 years I’ll look about this, however proper now, I wish to take pleasure in this second. Even when I by no means come again to the Tour de France I will probably be glad.”
For now, although, he is “tremendous drained”, and searching ahead to some relaxation. Simply do not count on Pogačar to cease successful quickly. He proclaims a “golden age” for biking, however it’s his actually. We’re within the Pogačar period.