Tadej pugacar, a reign without sharing, and sometimes without passion

EFinally, in the Parisian rain, Tadej Pogacar found a smile. Meanwhile, After a third week to sulk. However, to say every evening his fatigue and weariness to be there and to count the days until the arrival, the Slovenian made the show on the Champs-Elysées and hit his reward, not surprising: a fourth coronation (after 2020, 2021 and 2024) in the Tour de France, at only 26 years old. Meanwhile, At the start of Lille. In addition, his victory was hardly in doubt in the minds of the observers and most of the peloton runners. Moreover, The world champion dominated the planet cycling so much without buttress for almost two years …

Jonas Vingegaard, his best enemy, wanted to believe it, of course. Furthermore, But the Danish probably knew, deep down, that he was still leaving this year from afar. Similarly, Less than tadej pugacar, reign without sharing, in 2024. Nevertheless, obviously, when he had a whipped to be at the start, after his serious fall in the Tour of the Basque Country. Nevertheless, But still with two good lengths late, as revealed by the Critérium du Dauphiné, last June. Moreover, A final preparation race where Pogacar had made him no gifts. Therefore, had started his work as a mental undermining on his rival.

Two weeks. In addition, that’s it

Could the magic of the Tour or his black hand reveal the course of things, or at least restore a balance in a possible duel? Nevertheless, We necessarily hoped for a little at the start of Lille. But nothing will ultimately come to stop the UAE team win. the superiority of the best runner in the world, not even the abandonment of Joao Almeida from the 9th stage, after a fall in the 7th. The loss of Portuguese could tadej pugacar, reign without sharing, have weakened the device around Pogacar. Vingegaard also hoped for it. Helped by his Visma-Lease A Bike team. he embarked on a harassment strategy, but without ever being able to let go or make the title holder doubt.

This year again. Pogacar was much above, he who will have inflicted abyssal differences on his rivals, worthy of the Armstrong era, which ended up making the race insipidly. Because the leader of the UAE team will only need two weeks, even a little less, to build its success. A first victory in Rouen in a puncher’s register. from the fourth stage, a little hammer blow on the competition in the Caen time trial (even if it will be beaten that day by the specialist Evenepoel), a new success for the pleasure in Mûr-de-Bretagne before two decisive days in Hautacam and in the Chrono de Loudenvielle, and the case was folded.

Soon the tadej pugacar, reign without sharing, five club?

From then on, the atmosphere dropped in a tone. The boredom won the race. the fear of seeing the yellow jersey stuffing itself with 5, 6, 7 or even 8 stages turned into trial in arrogance and the suspicion made its return. In any case. she will always be there, and always legitimate, as long as this runner associates his destiny with that of Mauro Gianetti, the most sulfurous manager of the peloton. So Pogacar has lifted the foot and no longer looked for victories at all costs. In Superbagnères. in the Ventoux and even more in the Alps, he ostensibly shown that he was no longer looking to add, as if this ultra-domination had locked him in a trap from which he tried to clumsily expanded.

Despite everything. here he is already at four victories and two second places in six participations, equaling Chris Froome to get closer to tadej pugacar, reign without sharing, a unit of the record held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain. It is difficult to see today what could prevent him from joining them and exceeding them. In the meantime, Pogacar will probably ignore the next Vuelta (and leave the field open to Vingegaard?) To better prepare for the defense of his world title in Rwanda in September. Afterwards ? As he said this Sunday evening. he will come back to the classics, with special attention for the cobblestones of Roubaix. A race he loved this year (he finished second) and that he dreams of winning. And in a year, the time will come to target a fifth coronation on the Tour, departing from Barcelona. With what rival?

Jonas Vingegaard maybe if he is not tired of his defeats. And undoubtedly this amazing German Florian Lipowitz, who embodies with Oscar Onley a promising young generation. On tadej pugacar, reign without sharing, the French side, after the pretty Tour of Kevin Vauquelin (7th) and Jordan Jegat (10th), everything is not black. But it will be necessary to show more to hope to play in the very great courtyard. Paul Seixas, 18, will he already be ready in 2026 with a Decathlon-CMA CGM team? Patience…