Tadej Pogacar delivered a stunning solo performance on Bastille Day, attacking 35 kilometers from the finish to win stage 10 of the Tour de France and extend his overall lead to 3 minutes 45 seconds over defending champion Jonas Vingegaard.
Stage 10: A Decisive Break
The stage, a 197-kilometer route from Orléans to Saint-Étienne, featured rolling terrain that suited Pogacar's aggressive style. The UAE Team Emirates rider surged away from the main group on the Côte de la Croix de Chaubouret, the final climb of the day, and never looked back. He crossed the line 1 minute 23 seconds ahead of the chasing pack, led by Vingegaard and other contenders.
"I felt really good today and decided to go for it," Pogacar said after the stage. "It's special to win on Bastille Day, and to take more time on Jonas is a big bonus."
Impact on the General Classification
Pogacar's victory significantly reshapes the race dynamics. He now leads Vingegaard by 3 minutes 45 seconds, with Remco Evenepoel third at 5 minutes 12 seconds. The time gap is the largest Pogacar has held over his rivals at this stage of the Tour since 2021.
"We knew this stage could be a turning point, but we didn't expect such a big gap," said UAE Team Emirates sports director Mauro Gianetti. "Tadej was on another level today."
Vingegaard's Response
Vingegaard, who had no teammates to chase down Pogacar after his Jumbo-Visma squad was depleted earlier in the stage, acknowledged the setback. "It's not ideal, but we still have many stages to come," the Dane said. "We will keep fighting."
The Tour continues with stage 11, a 211-kilometer flat stage from Saint-Étienne to Moulins, expected to favour sprinters. Pogacar will aim to defend his lead in the mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees in the coming weeks.
