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Back in its traditional July slot, a nice hilly parcours with a couple of ITTs and on the face of it a match-up between last year's winner Pogacar and Roglic who hasn't raced since April.
Ineos have a strong looking team though, with Thomas apparently team leader according to the betting but a few others with potential and I'm intrigued to see how Carapaz & Geoghegan Hart do.
Initial betting interest for me - 12/1 on Pogacar e/w for KoM is too big and 9/4 Sagan for Green is tempting with Bennett out but it's a competitive field.
Ineos have a strong looking team though, with Thomas apparently team leader according to the betting but a few others with potential and I'm intrigued to see how Carapaz & Geoghegan Hart do.
Initial betting interest for me - 12/1 on Pogacar e/w for KoM is too big and 9/4 Sagan for Green is tempting with Bennett out but it's a competitive field.
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Motorbike more like it.
Nacer 14/1 tomorrow im on ew.
Nacer 14/1 tomorrow im on ew.
Think its worth the lay under 1.50 , anything can happen . Having said that I did it enough times with Froome , unfortunately .
Unbelievable rider
Got long stage tomorrow could get break away that gets away tomorrow maybe
Got long stage tomorrow could get break away that gets away tomorrow maybe
Down and out this time last year nobody wanted him .Has to find a sponsor to pay his wages to go cap in hand to Decuenik and say can i ride for you.
Epitomy of grim determination /hard work and confidence and what you can achieve if you have belief in yourself , when all round you dont.
Just got that second sense tactically to be in the right place @ the right time.Whilst travelling @ 60 km on a bike.
Genius.
Epitomy of grim determination /hard work and confidence and what you can achieve if you have belief in yourself , when all round you dont.
Just got that second sense tactically to be in the right place @ the right time.Whilst travelling @ 60 km on a bike.
Genius.
The Cannibal must be starting to worry about his record.
Get through mountains..pick another couple of wins on the way...get n/o 35 on the Champ would be something special...he's easily got the beating of those sprinters still left in...and with Bennett and a couple of others missing, prob best and last chance to break record...it's gotta be on...legend
I don't know why they can't show the sprint finishes live using the overhead camera. Cav won by half a length today but you couldn't tell from the head-on. Imagine showing horse racing finishes as a head-on
Great idea A_T, they should be able to maybe split screen, both views would be the job.
Pierre Latour 100ew
Anthony Turgis 100ew
Small bets can’t much on
Anthony Turgis 100ew
Small bets can’t much on
Been tied up the last few days, but what a story with the return of the Manx Missile, incredible stuff 
Mark Cavendish's resurgence continued as he claimed his 32nd stage win at the Tour de France to move closer to the all-time record of 34 held by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish powered past Jasper Philipsen and Nacer Bouhanni to collect his second stage win at this year's race.
It is the third time that Cavendish has won in Chateauroux, the scene of his very first victory at the Tour in 2008.
Was also interesting to see Pogacar put the field to the sword in the time trial, what a star we have emerging here.
Always easy to get carried away with visions of year after year yellow jerseys, but hard to have a solid argument that says this guy is not in the process of climbing his way to the top of the pile.
Mark Cavendish's resurgence continued as he claimed his 32nd stage win at the Tour de France to move closer to the all-time record of 34 held by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish powered past Jasper Philipsen and Nacer Bouhanni to collect his second stage win at this year's race.
It is the third time that Cavendish has won in Chateauroux, the scene of his very first victory at the Tour in 2008.
Was also interesting to see Pogacar put the field to the sword in the time trial, what a star we have emerging here.
Always easy to get carried away with visions of year after year yellow jerseys, but hard to have a solid argument that says this guy is not in the process of climbing his way to the top of the pile.
Don’t remember him powering way though nacer yesterday
Got just jump on him nacer couldn’t get to him twice
That’s happened now I think nacer should get on with it
Not try follow cav do his own thing
Got just jump on him nacer couldn’t get to him twice
That’s happened now I think nacer should get on with it
Not try follow cav do his own thing
Friday, 2 July - stage seven: Vierzon - Le Creusot, 249.1km
The longest stage for 21 years sees the peloton climb more than 3,000m, mainly on five demanding climbs in the concluding 100km.
The Signal d'Uchon should scatter the peloton as the finish line approaches with a 5.7km slope ramping up to an 18% gradient on its steepest section. The breakaway specialists may view this as an opportunity to steal some of the limelight away from the GC battle.
Riders to watch: Marc Hirschi, Thomas de Gendt, Matej Mohoric
The longest stage for 21 years sees the peloton climb more than 3,000m, mainly on five demanding climbs in the concluding 100km.
The Signal d'Uchon should scatter the peloton as the finish line approaches with a 5.7km slope ramping up to an 18% gradient on its steepest section. The breakaway specialists may view this as an opportunity to steal some of the limelight away from the GC battle.
Riders to watch: Marc Hirschi, Thomas de Gendt, Matej Mohoric
Greg Van Avermaet was just warming up yesterday, backing him to have another go today
Pogacar might find friends in the mountains in stage hunting teams like your movistars and bahrains. They will help to reel in attacks. Only hope is that he gets tired. He looked slightly vulnerable on col de la loze last year and hes had a tough first week, on the attack stages 1 and 2, pulling back a gap stage 3, ridiculous time trial stage 5. Might be wrong but i dont think he had a particularly hard first week last year. Its a straw to clutch at.
Pogacar might find friends in the mountains in stage hunting teams like your movistars and bahrains. They will help to reel in attacks. Only hope is that he gets tired. He looked slightly vulnerable on col de la loze last year and hes had a tough first week, on the attack stages 1 and 2, pulling back a gap stage 3, ridiculous time trial stage 5. Might be wrong but i dont think he had a particularly hard first week last year. Its a straw to clutch at.
Insane breakaway with decent riders in it Certainly shake up the GC if it stays away 
Another Sloavaken taken the the y jersey
Must be the Porridge their eating
Must be the Porridge their eating
Honestly...that fckin stunk more than even any of pogacar's 'unbelievable' performances
Saturday, 3 July - stage eight: Oyonnax - Le Grand Bornard, 150.8km
After a week of relatively flat racing the Tour arrives in the Alps.
The descent to the finish at Le Grand Bornard comes after three back-to-back category one climbs with Cote de Mont-Saxonnex, Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere all on the menu.
Riders to watch: Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Alejandro Valverde
After a week of relatively flat racing the Tour arrives in the Alps.
The descent to the finish at Le Grand Bornard comes after three back-to-back category one climbs with Cote de Mont-Saxonnex, Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere all on the menu.
Riders to watch: Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Alejandro Valverde
Riders to watch: Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Alejandro Valverde
I can't see two of those three being involved. Do we know what happened to GH on stage 1? He is so far behind now that Ineos could put him in the break if fit.
I can't see two of those three being involved. Do we know what happened to GH on stage 1? He is so far behind now that Ineos could put him in the break if fit.
Hows he finnished 4th thpought was clear 2nd Must have been chaos in top 3 market ,I missed the last couple of KMs
Reined it in on the descent which allowed the other two to come back to him, they then outsprinted him to the line. Looked pretty empty at the end after that huge ride away from the rest of the peloton.
He's gonna spend the rest of the Tour trying not to win by too much and feigning tiredness...UAE, Bahrain and the whole of Slovenian cycling stink the fckin place out...plenty more to come out through Aderlass imo
Roglic abandoned, not sure what G gains by staying on.
Gs injury likely to improve thro the race. then he becomes available to help Carapaz or go for stage victories in 3rd week /Pyrenees.
Big diff for G overnight .Now riding on wheel of Podgacar. with 7k to go.
Inexos made a blunder
Shoudnt have raced in
Connor would have lead
Put pressure on Pogacar
Shoudnt have raced in
Connor would have lead
Put pressure on Pogacar
How is that a blunder by Ineos ? If they hadnt chased down they end up giving 2nd place to O Connor.
2nd place is the only hope Carapaz has now .
O Connor leading doesnt put Pogacar under any pressure @ all as AGR have to ride then giving UAE a rest and clearly Pogacar is a different league to the others and can pick off O Connor any day he wihes.
2nd place is the only hope Carapaz has now .
O Connor leading doesnt put Pogacar under any pressure @ all as AGR have to ride then giving UAE a rest and clearly Pogacar is a different league to the others and can pick off O Connor any day he wihes.
It was still a little disappointing to see ineos surrender the race to pogacar on day 9. He isnt just beating them on the road, hes mentally destroying them, by the end of this race ineos are going to be fetching his bottles and asking his permission to attack
it's a close race for the other podium positions - and anything could happen to the Slovenian. i don't see how ineos forcing the pace is surrendering to Pogacar
What could Ineos do??
This race has been attritional and Pogacar is in a different league to his rivals.
Despite what all the other teams say the race isnt about winning the tour any more its about obtaining 2nd or 3rd and then hoping some unforseen ailment befalls Pogacar .
Carapaz gave his all friday and saturday trying to break Pogacar and ended up gaining nothing timewise.
Yesterday he was spent.
As an aside stay away from robbing b@skets Bet *65
Current Prices to win tour
1/14 Pog
9/4 Carapaz
9/4 Oconnor
7/2 Uran
4/1 Vingard
@ least Dick Turpin wore a mask. No wonder Denise is 1 of the richest women and highest taxpayers in the uk
This race has been attritional and Pogacar is in a different league to his rivals.
Despite what all the other teams say the race isnt about winning the tour any more its about obtaining 2nd or 3rd and then hoping some unforseen ailment befalls Pogacar .
Carapaz gave his all friday and saturday trying to break Pogacar and ended up gaining nothing timewise.
Yesterday he was spent.
As an aside stay away from robbing b@skets Bet *65
Current Prices to win tour
1/14 Pog
9/4 Carapaz
9/4 Oconnor
7/2 Uran
4/1 Vingard
@ least Dick Turpin wore a mask. No wonder Denise is 1 of the richest women and highest taxpayers in the uk
In the interests of fairness they are the prices betting without Pogacar.
thought it was odd?
But why would Pog be quoted @ 1/14 for a market without?
But why would Pog be quoted @ 1/14 for a market without?
i don't see how ineos forcing the pace is surrendering to Pogacar
As i see it, the only way to actively stop the best rider winning is to isolate them, and make them work at every opportunity until they are tired enough to lose time.
Turning down an opportunity to make pogacar pull is to give up on that strategy because hes too scary and try for a lesser target. Thats a mental beating. True enough they got themselves in a better position to profit if anything happens to pog, but thats a fingers crossed strategy rather than a fighting one. Imo
As i see it, the only way to actively stop the best rider winning is to isolate them, and make them work at every opportunity until they are tired enough to lose time.
Turning down an opportunity to make pogacar pull is to give up on that strategy because hes too scary and try for a lesser target. Thats a mental beating. True enough they got themselves in a better position to profit if anything happens to pog, but thats a fingers crossed strategy rather than a fighting one. Imo
Didn't see any cycling today was busy, how much more did "he" extend his lead by today?
Didnt Ineos try to isolate him via Carapaz(2nd best climber in the race) on friday and tried to go with him on Saturday as well and ended up with naff all.
He was isolated last year in the mountains which made no difference whatsoever .
His team is stronger this year and Costa /Majka/Formolo/Mcnulty(until he made a schoolboy error) rode well in support on Sunday.
Carapaz aint even on the podium yet and if he carrys on trying to beat Pog he wont be either. Uran and Vinegaard are better time trialists than him havent even showed their hand yet and are still in front of him. They have to find a strategy to get Carapaz into 2nd place as trying to beat Pog is like banging yer head against a brick wall.
He was isolated last year in the mountains which made no difference whatsoever .
His team is stronger this year and Costa /Majka/Formolo/Mcnulty(until he made a schoolboy error) rode well in support on Sunday.
Carapaz aint even on the podium yet and if he carrys on trying to beat Pog he wont be either. Uran and Vinegaard are better time trialists than him havent even showed their hand yet and are still in front of him. They have to find a strategy to get Carapaz into 2nd place as trying to beat Pog is like banging yer head against a brick wall.
Cav and the team taking the Pish , lead out led to 100 meters ..
Mark Cavendish sprinted to his 33rd stage victory at the Tour de France to move within one win of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx's all-time record.
The Manx rider, 36, held off Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen to win stage 10 in Valence after a perfect lead-out.
Deceuninck-Quick-Step's Cavendish also won stages four and six of this Tour.
There are two more sprints this week and two more in the last week, ending with the Champs-Elysees finale, where Cavendish has won a record four times.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely in the main bunch to retain the leader's yellow jersey.
Cavendish also extended his advantage in the green jersey points classification and now leads Australia's Michael Matthews by 59 points, with Italy's Sonny Colbrelli a further 23 behind.
"It was an old-school, run-of-the-mill, like you read in the cycling magazines, textbook lead-out," said Cavendish, who won the 2011 green jersey.
"We got the lads on the front to pull as fast as they can so no one can come past you.
"I didn't really do anything until the last 150m because of my team."
Of his three wins in this year's race, this victory was perhaps the most reminiscent of the usual way he surged to his 30 stage wins between 2008 and 2016.
With the strongest sprint train in the race dominating the front, Cavendish was able to stay on the wheel of Michael Morkov, widely regarded as the best lead-out man in cycling, to launch late and have time to put his arms up in celebration, even as others closed in.
He once again lavishly praised his team-mates, saying he was "humbled" to have the likes of Tour of Flanders champion Kasper Asgreen and world champion Julian Alaphilippe pulling for him.
Many other elite sprinters are missing, with Caleb Ewan breaking his collarbone in a crash on stage three, which was won by Tim Merlier, who has since abandoned, while Dylan Groenewegen was not selected.
However, that does not diminish the achievements of Cavendish here, having not been used to riding with this sprint train, which had been preparing to ride for last year's green jersey winner Sam Bennett.
Cavendish had already made a resurgence earlier this year with four wins, but he has taken the opportunity to step in for the injured Bennett brilliantly and completely repaid the faith shown in him by Deceunick-Quick-Step in re-signing him after years of illness and loss of form.
Having not contested the intermediate sprint, Cavendish said after the stage finish that he is only focusing on stage wins and that the green jersey is a bonus.
Yet with his nearest green jersey contenders not threatening in bunch sprint finishes and record seven-time winner Peter Sagan seemingly not challenging for it this year, Cavendish is looking increasingly likely to claim his second green jersey - as long as he makes it to Paris.
Wednesday's Stage 11 is a decisive day for the general classification contenders, featuring two ascents of the famous Mont Ventoux.
The Manx rider, 36, held off Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen to win stage 10 in Valence after a perfect lead-out.
Deceuninck-Quick-Step's Cavendish also won stages four and six of this Tour.
There are two more sprints this week and two more in the last week, ending with the Champs-Elysees finale, where Cavendish has won a record four times.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely in the main bunch to retain the leader's yellow jersey.
Cavendish also extended his advantage in the green jersey points classification and now leads Australia's Michael Matthews by 59 points, with Italy's Sonny Colbrelli a further 23 behind.
"It was an old-school, run-of-the-mill, like you read in the cycling magazines, textbook lead-out," said Cavendish, who won the 2011 green jersey.
"We got the lads on the front to pull as fast as they can so no one can come past you.
"I didn't really do anything until the last 150m because of my team."
Of his three wins in this year's race, this victory was perhaps the most reminiscent of the usual way he surged to his 30 stage wins between 2008 and 2016.
With the strongest sprint train in the race dominating the front, Cavendish was able to stay on the wheel of Michael Morkov, widely regarded as the best lead-out man in cycling, to launch late and have time to put his arms up in celebration, even as others closed in.
He once again lavishly praised his team-mates, saying he was "humbled" to have the likes of Tour of Flanders champion Kasper Asgreen and world champion Julian Alaphilippe pulling for him.
Many other elite sprinters are missing, with Caleb Ewan breaking his collarbone in a crash on stage three, which was won by Tim Merlier, who has since abandoned, while Dylan Groenewegen was not selected.
However, that does not diminish the achievements of Cavendish here, having not been used to riding with this sprint train, which had been preparing to ride for last year's green jersey winner Sam Bennett.
Cavendish had already made a resurgence earlier this year with four wins, but he has taken the opportunity to step in for the injured Bennett brilliantly and completely repaid the faith shown in him by Deceunick-Quick-Step in re-signing him after years of illness and loss of form.
Having not contested the intermediate sprint, Cavendish said after the stage finish that he is only focusing on stage wins and that the green jersey is a bonus.
Yet with his nearest green jersey contenders not threatening in bunch sprint finishes and record seven-time winner Peter Sagan seemingly not challenging for it this year, Cavendish is looking increasingly likely to claim his second green jersey - as long as he makes it to Paris.
Wednesday's Stage 11 is a decisive day for the general classification contenders, featuring two ascents of the famous Mont Ventoux.
Similarities
Italy in the footie going for their 33rd unbeaten run this evening
Italy in the footie going for their 33rd unbeaten run this evening
I bet Van Eart yesterday PMSL , been matched at 400 plus to day , never realised he was such a good climber ,Bet Mollema today thought I was in Business when he Joined them 
Thought the pog unbreakable label came under scrutiny yesterday ..
As for todays Business Cav and the Quicksteps look unbeatable if it comes down to a sprint ,Can a breakaway stay away ?
As for todays Business Cav and the Quicksteps look unbeatable if it comes down to a sprint ,Can a breakaway stay away ?
Ineos in disarray
Rowe outside time limit yesterday
Imploding
Rowe outside time limit yesterday
Imploding
Break managed to stay away , suspect more of the same tomorrow , Todays winner Matched at 250 Great ride won easily
Great ride won easily
3 sprints end of next week , will just keep him in race till then 
No one can live with him the lead out 2nd today
No one can live with him the lead out 2nd today
Britain's Mark Cavendish has made history in the Tour de France by equalling Belgian great Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins.
The Deceuninck-Quick Step rider won the sprint into Carcassonne by a few inches ahead of team-mate Michael Morkov.
Briton Simon Yates of Team Bike Exchange abandoned the race following a crash in which several riders fell down a ravine.
"It's what I dreamed of as a kid. I've worked so hard for it," said Cavendish.
Tadej Pogacar of UAE-Team Emirates remains in the leader's yellow jersey.
Cavendish added: "I'm so dead - 220km in that heat, in that wind. I went so deep there - they boys were incredible. I can't believe it.
"A lot of the day I didn't feel like it would happen, I was so on the limit at the end.
"I haven't realised it [was the record] - it's another win on the Tour."
The Deceuninck-Quick Step rider won the sprint into Carcassonne by a few inches ahead of team-mate Michael Morkov.
Briton Simon Yates of Team Bike Exchange abandoned the race following a crash in which several riders fell down a ravine.
"It's what I dreamed of as a kid. I've worked so hard for it," said Cavendish.
Tadej Pogacar of UAE-Team Emirates remains in the leader's yellow jersey.
Cavendish added: "I'm so dead - 220km in that heat, in that wind. I went so deep there - they boys were incredible. I can't believe it.
"A lot of the day I didn't feel like it would happen, I was so on the limit at the end.
"I haven't realised it [was the record] - it's another win on the Tour."
great achievement Mark and your lead out guys this tour are the best i've ever seen as you know and have acknowledged
Will any of the teams with a contender in the top 10 try to put pressure on UAE when they hit the first classified climbs or will everybody wait until the Col de Beixalis?
The games over for GC barring accident/illness/drug bust and the rest know that . Any of the other contenders in the top 10 are actually putting more pressure on 2nd and 3rd contenders not UAE. The next 7o r 8 after Pog appear to be very evenly matched. Whilst hes in a different league.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar took a sublime victory atop the Col du Portet on stage 17 of the Tour de France to extend his lead in the yellow jersey.
The Slovenian, 22, kicked clear of Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz with 150 metres to go to win his fifth Tour stage overall and second of 2021.
UAE Team Emirates' Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by five mins 39 seconds, with Carapaz four seconds further back.
Rigoberto Uran slipped from second to fourth after cracking at 8km remaining.
Pogacar, who won the stage five time trial before taking the yellow jersey on stage eight, has four days left to defend it, though Sunday's final stage is a processional run to Paris where convention dictates the leader is not attacked.
"We were 50-50 - do we go for the win stage or just defend? - but in the end we tried and I am super-happy," he said.
A gruelling day in the Pyrenees featured three long and steep climbs in the final 60km, but Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates team-mates were always in control of the race.
They set a fierce pace to reel in Anthony Perez, the last of six early escapees to stay clear, and then launched Pogacar to go it alone halfway up the 2,215m Col du Portet.
Only Vingegaard and Carapaz could stay with him, ensuring they both replaced Uran in the podium places, before the stage win was decided at the very top of the highest finish of this year's Tour.
Carapaz had appeared exhausted and stayed on his rivals' wheels for most of the climb before trying a surprise attack in the final kilometre, but he could not catch Pogacar out.
"Jonas said to me that he thought Carapaz was bluffing and I knew it also," Pogacar explained. "It was nothing unusual - this is the tactic in cycling and he tried to attack. I had the drive to catch him but it was super hard.
"It was a fantastic day. To win in yellow is something I cannot describe."
Earlier in the stage, Britain's Mark Cavendish had kept his grip on the green jersey by limiting his loss to his closest rival, Australian Michael Matthews, to just one point.
Cavendish tracked Matthews over the line in the intermediate sprint that came after 113km of the 178.4km route, and now leads the points category by 36 points.
The Manxman was quickly dropped by the main peloton once the riders entered the mountains, but he still finished safely within the time limit for the stage.
The Slovenian, 22, kicked clear of Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz with 150 metres to go to win his fifth Tour stage overall and second of 2021.
UAE Team Emirates' Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by five mins 39 seconds, with Carapaz four seconds further back.
Rigoberto Uran slipped from second to fourth after cracking at 8km remaining.
Pogacar, who won the stage five time trial before taking the yellow jersey on stage eight, has four days left to defend it, though Sunday's final stage is a processional run to Paris where convention dictates the leader is not attacked.
"We were 50-50 - do we go for the win stage or just defend? - but in the end we tried and I am super-happy," he said.
A gruelling day in the Pyrenees featured three long and steep climbs in the final 60km, but Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates team-mates were always in control of the race.
They set a fierce pace to reel in Anthony Perez, the last of six early escapees to stay clear, and then launched Pogacar to go it alone halfway up the 2,215m Col du Portet.
Only Vingegaard and Carapaz could stay with him, ensuring they both replaced Uran in the podium places, before the stage win was decided at the very top of the highest finish of this year's Tour.
Carapaz had appeared exhausted and stayed on his rivals' wheels for most of the climb before trying a surprise attack in the final kilometre, but he could not catch Pogacar out.
"Jonas said to me that he thought Carapaz was bluffing and I knew it also," Pogacar explained. "It was nothing unusual - this is the tactic in cycling and he tried to attack. I had the drive to catch him but it was super hard.
"It was a fantastic day. To win in yellow is something I cannot describe."
Earlier in the stage, Britain's Mark Cavendish had kept his grip on the green jersey by limiting his loss to his closest rival, Australian Michael Matthews, to just one point.
Cavendish tracked Matthews over the line in the intermediate sprint that came after 113km of the 178.4km route, and now leads the points category by 36 points.
The Manxman was quickly dropped by the main peloton once the riders entered the mountains, but he still finished safely within the time limit for the stage.
Carapaz wsant sneaky
Used all means to win
This is real fighting
Should have waited to the last 1/4 mile rather than further out
Used all means to win
This is real fighting
Should have waited to the last 1/4 mile rather than further out
Perhaps he really was exhausted, the contents of the jiffy bag taking longer to kick in than is normal
Another stage win there for Pogacar if he's up for it today ......
What a kiddie he is, breaks them again for another stage win
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar claimed back-to-back Tour de France stage wins to underline his dominance in the leader's yellow jersey.
Pogacar accelerated clear on the summit finish on stage 18 at Luz Ardiden to extend his overall lead to five minutes and 45 seconds.
Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz finished second and third.
Pogacar is expected to win the time trial on the penultimate stage on Saturday to seal his Tour defence.
The 22-year-old's victory also sees him move to the top of the king of the mountains classification and he is now likely to arrive in Paris on Sunday's processional final stage as the owner of three of the four race jerseys - the yellow, the polka dot and white jersey - for the second consecutive year.
Britain's Mark Cavendish, who wears the green jersey as the leader of the points classification, rolled over the finish line more than 32 minutes after Pogacar, but well inside the cut-off time for the day.
Ineos Grenadiers had tried to use the final climb to set up Carapaz for a late attack.
But it was Pogacar, aided by UAE Team Emirates colleague Rafał Majka who made the first significant move, and then rode clear after chasing down Movistar's Spanish GC hopeful Enric Mas.
"It's unbelievable," said Pogacar. "After yesterday, I felt really good and I'm really happy with the win. It's crazy. There's still three days to go so you never know, but it looks good.
"It was super hard. Already on the [Col du] Tourmalet the pace was such that you just sit in the wheel and forget about everything and then on the last climb, that was the maximum."
Asked if he should be worried about the time trial still to come, Pogacar added: "Why should I be worried? You can lose six minutes in a time trial. It's happened before, but I'm pretty confident."
Pogacar accelerated clear on the summit finish on stage 18 at Luz Ardiden to extend his overall lead to five minutes and 45 seconds.
Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz finished second and third.
Pogacar is expected to win the time trial on the penultimate stage on Saturday to seal his Tour defence.
The 22-year-old's victory also sees him move to the top of the king of the mountains classification and he is now likely to arrive in Paris on Sunday's processional final stage as the owner of three of the four race jerseys - the yellow, the polka dot and white jersey - for the second consecutive year.
Britain's Mark Cavendish, who wears the green jersey as the leader of the points classification, rolled over the finish line more than 32 minutes after Pogacar, but well inside the cut-off time for the day.
Ineos Grenadiers had tried to use the final climb to set up Carapaz for a late attack.
But it was Pogacar, aided by UAE Team Emirates colleague Rafał Majka who made the first significant move, and then rode clear after chasing down Movistar's Spanish GC hopeful Enric Mas.
"It's unbelievable," said Pogacar. "After yesterday, I felt really good and I'm really happy with the win. It's crazy. There's still three days to go so you never know, but it looks good.
"It was super hard. Already on the [Col du] Tourmalet the pace was such that you just sit in the wheel and forget about everything and then on the last climb, that was the maximum."
Asked if he should be worried about the time trial still to come, Pogacar added: "Why should I be worried? You can lose six minutes in a time trial. It's happened before, but I'm pretty confident."
Should have waited to the last 1/4 mile rather than further out
he still would have lost
he still would have lost
Friday, 16 July - stage 19: Mourenx - Libourne, 207km
With the race for the yellow jersey put on hold, the profile of this stage suits the sprinters as Libourne hosts a finish for the first time since 1992.
The other likelihood is that a number of riders will form a breakaway, hoping that fatigue and any caution prior to the final time trial, gives them enough leeway to make it decisive.
Could today be the day for Cav
With the race for the yellow jersey put on hold, the profile of this stage suits the sprinters as Libourne hosts a finish for the first time since 1992.
The other likelihood is that a number of riders will form a breakaway, hoping that fatigue and any caution prior to the final time trial, gives them enough leeway to make it decisive.
Could today be the day for Cav
Cav to wait for Paris
A much easier option and
Sock it to the FRENCH
iN THE CAPITAL
A much easier option and
Sock it to the FRENCH
iN THE CAPITAL
Yes a Mountain Man wins a sprint stage , Breakaway were blown away , Slovenia Magic Carrots
Bar Cav tour has been a borefest TBH
Bar Cav tour has been a borefest TBH
Bahrain-Victorious' Matej Mohoric won stage 19 of the Tour de France, denying Mark Cavendish an opportunity to break the record for stage wins he shares with Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish had hoped to compete for a 35th stage win, but a breakaway of 20 riders left the peloton well behind.
Cavendish will get another chance in Sunday's final stage, which finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar remains in the leader's yellow jersey.
Mohoric's second win of the Tour comes after his team's hotel was raided by French police on Wednesday over an allegation of doping.
He said after his win: "I was thinking mostly about what happened two days ago. You feel a bit like a criminal. It's a good thing the police are checking - of course they found nothing, because we have nothing to hide.
"But I'm a bit disappointed with the system - it's not a nice thing when police walk into into your room and start going through all your belongings.
"Even if you have nothing to hide it feels a bit weird when they go through your personal things, photos of your family, your phone and your messages."
The largely flat 207km stage into Libourne was expected to result in a sprint finish, with all eyes on Cavendish, who was warmly embraced by Belgian cycling legend Merckx at the start in Mourenx.
However, after a frenetic opening and early crashes involving Geraint Thomas, Rafal Majka, Enric Mas, Sonny Colbrelli and Cavendish, a large breakaway was allowed to escape by a peloton with little appetite to deliver a meaningful chase on the back of several punishing days in the Pyrenees.
And Mohoric delivered a replica of the superb solo attack that carried him to victory on stage seven, riding clear with 26km to go and extending his lead as the chasing group failed to organise themselves.
The peloton rolled home almost 21 minutes later, and Pogacar will defend a lead of five minutes and 45 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in Saturday's 30.8km individual time trial from Libourne to Saint Emilion.
Cavendish had hoped to compete for a 35th stage win, but a breakaway of 20 riders left the peloton well behind.
Cavendish will get another chance in Sunday's final stage, which finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar remains in the leader's yellow jersey.
Mohoric's second win of the Tour comes after his team's hotel was raided by French police on Wednesday over an allegation of doping.
He said after his win: "I was thinking mostly about what happened two days ago. You feel a bit like a criminal. It's a good thing the police are checking - of course they found nothing, because we have nothing to hide.
"But I'm a bit disappointed with the system - it's not a nice thing when police walk into into your room and start going through all your belongings.
"Even if you have nothing to hide it feels a bit weird when they go through your personal things, photos of your family, your phone and your messages."
The largely flat 207km stage into Libourne was expected to result in a sprint finish, with all eyes on Cavendish, who was warmly embraced by Belgian cycling legend Merckx at the start in Mourenx.
However, after a frenetic opening and early crashes involving Geraint Thomas, Rafal Majka, Enric Mas, Sonny Colbrelli and Cavendish, a large breakaway was allowed to escape by a peloton with little appetite to deliver a meaningful chase on the back of several punishing days in the Pyrenees.
And Mohoric delivered a replica of the superb solo attack that carried him to victory on stage seven, riding clear with 26km to go and extending his lead as the chasing group failed to organise themselves.
The peloton rolled home almost 21 minutes later, and Pogacar will defend a lead of five minutes and 45 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in Saturday's 30.8km individual time trial from Libourne to Saint Emilion.
Can Pogacar win the t trial?
Betfair stop the betting
Would have Van de Art
Betfair stop the betting
Would have Van de Art
Race starts at 12.05 and betting disappeared on the winner SECTION
SHAMBLES
BETFAIR
SHAMBLES
BETFAIR
At least Cav should get another chance but obviously more difficult next year.
But overall, a quite stunning revival from the Manx Missile
casemoney16 Jul 21 14:55Joined: 04 Aug 06 | Topic/replies: 38,714 | Blogger: casemoney's blog
Yes a Mountain Man wins a sprint stage , Breakaway were blown away , Slovenia Magic Carrots
Bar Cav tour has been a borefest TBH
Case: If you think this tour has been a borefest. Then clearly cycling as a sport aint for you.imo.
Yes a Mountain Man wins a sprint stage , Breakaway were blown away , Slovenia Magic Carrots
Bar Cav tour has been a borefest TBH
Case: If you think this tour has been a borefest. Then clearly cycling as a sport aint for you.imo.
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