A little jab from Pogacar at Vingegaard? Today’s words from the protagonists

Today’s stage was the last mountain stage of this Tour de France and, although the winner was a pleasant surprise, those who were expecting fireworks among the GC contenders were left disappointed. Apart from Roglič, who tried to grab a podium spot with a bold long‑range move, the other riders stayed cautious.

Pogačar hinted at an attack on the final climb without dropping Vingegaard; at that point, when he realized the Dane didn’t want to take a pull, he sat up. That’s when Arensman understood he had a free shot, he attacked, and pulled off a feat he might remember for his entire career. Looking at the podium fight, Lipowitz rode brilliantly, locking down third place over Onley, now about a minute behind.

Here are the words of the top three in the general classification and of today’s stage winner after the stage:

Read also: The penalty for the photographer who caused Vingegaard’s crash, Visma disagrees

POGAČAR –
“We did a great job up to the last climb. Then some riders thought they could sprint for all 19 kilometers of the climb and set a very high pace from the start. I attacked as soon as Decathlon stopped pulling, but it was a bit too early. I thought Jonas wanted to win the stage like I did, but he was just following my wheel.

When Arensman attacked, I decided not to follow and to set a defensive pace that I felt comfortable with. No one else contributed to the chase and Arensman was going too fast for my rhythm. We came close to catching him, but we couldn’t, and he deserved this victory. I was pulling and counting the kilometers left to Paris, I had to pull almost all the way up the climb and reached the finish quite tired.

It’s been three tough days and I’m happy it’s over today. The Tour de France is starting to feel very long. With this weather today, and then the podium ceremony… I just want to get on the bus and have a nice hot shower. This is the Tour de France and you never know what can happen. We have to stay focused for two more days.”

VINGEGAARD –
“I gave it my all today to win the stage. Arensman was very solid, he deserved to win. Pogačar is very strong. He was the best rider, he deserved to win. You have to accept it, that’s what I do.”

LIPOWITZ –
“After yesterday’s stage I knew Oscar is very strong, I had to stay on his wheel and that’s what I managed to do well today. On the last climb you never really know how the legs will feel. But after five or six kilometers I still felt good. And when I saw him drop, I tried to give my all until the end.

It’s incredible to have made it this far with two days to go, but I know there’s still a very tough day ahead, with everyone wanting to go in the break, so I have to stay very focused. But I see so many people cheering for me, my name written on the road, and all of this gives me goosebumps.”

ARENSMAN –
“I’m completely exhausted. I can’t believe it. Winning a stage from a breakaway was already incredible. But to do it in front of the favorites’ group, against the best riders in the world… it feels like a dream. I don’t even know what I just did. After the descent towards La Plagne, I was talking on the radio, Tobias Foss was there and I exchanged a few words with our sports director, Zak Dempster.

I told myself: today is the last mountain stage. I’m not riding for the GC, but I’ll try to hang on and see how my legs respond in the first kilometers of the climb. I told Tobias to ease up: ‘Tomorrow is your day, I’ll see what I can do here.’ Since I wasn’t a threat for the GC, I thought maybe they’d watch each other. I just tried, I refused to give up.

Tadej and Jonas are the strongest in the world, almost like extraterrestrials, and I’m a human being. I can’t believe I beat them today. I tried not to look back, to go as fast as possible. I did it, and it was enough. It’s simply crazy.”

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