ISLAMABAD: Tadej Pogacar surged to victory in the sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Friday, reclaiming the coveted yellow jersey and strengthening his position for the overall title.
The Slovenian cyclist finished solo, crossing the line 1 minute and 1 second ahead of Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard.
With this win, Pogacar marked the 97th victory of his career, tying with French sprinter Arnaud Demare for the most active wins in professional cycling.
Dominating Performance in the Mountains
Pogacar’s decisive attack came with 7 kilometers remaining on the steep Cote de Domancy climb.
Only Vingegaard could briefly match his pace before fading, leaving Pogacar to extend his lead.
Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who led the overall standings before the stage, finished fifth, losing 1 minute 50 seconds.
Pogacar now holds a 43-second lead over Vingegaard and a 1 minute 22 second advantage over Evenepoel, positioning himself strongly ahead of the Tour de France.
Looking Ahead
Pogacar expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting strong form despite a disappointing time trial earlier in the week.
He highlighted the importance of the victory in signaling his readiness to defend his Tour de France crown this summer.
The challenging queen stage awaits on Saturday, a 132 km mountain course from Grand-Aigueblanche to Valmeinier 1800, which could prove pivotal for the race leaders.
