The scenes could not be extra totally different on a golden night in Good on a heat Sunday night. On one aspect, cheers, water being thrown, numerous hugs, a complete staff sporting specifically designed t-shirts. On the opposite, silence, a phrase from a companion, and acceptance of disappointment. Because the Patrouille de France – the French Pink 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 cope with the ignominy of successful, was in a position to lastly style victory once more on the Tour de France, whereas Jonas Vingegaard needed to stand there, watch his biggest rival have fun.
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 “loads had been realized”. Final 12 months, after one other chastening efficiency, the UAE Crew Emirates rider mentioned that he hoped to “come again stronger and with out damage”.
This was Pogačar, then, after classes had been realized and he had strengthened, and with out damage. Is it that easy? To come back 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 loads.
“This 12 months my preparation went actually easy,” Pogačar defined in his post-victory press convention. “In 2022 I had one unhealthy 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 unhealthy day, one mistake, which I could not bounce again from.
“I used to be actually motivated to return 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. In the long run I cracked mentally and bodily, and I used to be simply actually down from that. To bounce again this 12 months, with the proper preparation, I’m tremendous comfortable that I may pull it off.”
The Slovenian, usually verbose and humorous, appeared misplaced for phrases, such was the dimensions 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 aspect, it was clear that the comeback – the bounce again – meant loads for Pogačar. The scenes on the rostrum, together with his complete staff, appeared particularly poignant. Rather a lot had gone into this victory, even when it appeared 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, towards the calibre of opposition he was dealing with, appears momentous.
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I feel this 12 months was actually particular for me, however coming into the Tour towards Remco [Evenepoel], Jonas and Primož, and others,” Pogačar mentioned. “Expectations had been excessive for the large showdown, huge 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 a fantastic present, however in the long run, I may be comfortable and proud on the finish. I may be comfortable and proud that I got here out of this a winner. It’s a phenomenal second of biking, and this type 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 very best firstly, and he was the very best 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 living proof 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 finally 12 months’s race. There may be not slowing down; he’s insatiable.
“I began with a very good feeling in Monaco, I used to be having fun with the crowds,” he defined. “I felt actually good on the climb, and whenever you practice for a Tour de France stage you need to win it. I skilled 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 may do, after so many days on this highway, doing recons so many occasions. I wished to see I may do it, and within the meantime, I may nonetheless benefit from the crowds. They had been cheering full gasoline, and so they gave me much more motivation to go quick right now.”
What’s subsequent for Pogačar? The Olympics beckons, as do the World Championships, each with programs which can be eminently winnable for the Slovenian. He is not completed elevating his fingers in victory but. There will likely be no Vuelta a España this 12 months, however he will certainly attempt to win it within the subsequent couple of years, after which there are the excellent Monuments. He mentioned 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 does 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 mentioned. “Possibly in 30 years I’ll look about this, however proper now, I need to take pleasure in this second. Even when I by no means come again to the Tour de France I will likely be glad.”
For now, although, he is “tremendous drained”, and searching ahead to some relaxation. Simply do not anticipate Pogačar to cease successful quickly. He proclaims a “golden age” for biking, nevertheless it’s his actually. We’re within the Pogačar period.
