The appetizer was fireworks. The first Pyrenean stage was the rage of Tadej Pogacar, so determined to reconquer the Tour's sky, to settle so many pending debts with Jonas Vingegaard. If in the Central Massif it seemed that the tables were turning, on the way to Pla d'Adet, where 50 years ago Poulidor inaugurated this ascent ahead of the Spanish López Carril, the Slovenian cleared doubts and continued riding as only he knows, ambitious, brave, tactical also this time, to take another bite at this Tour that, however, still holds its main courses.
It was the 13th victory in the Grande Boucle for this 25-year-old genius, the 79th of a career that is already legendary. There were 39 seconds of advantage at the top (plus the six bonus seconds) over Vingegaard, which already shoot him in the general classification with almost two minutes of lead (1:57). But, above all, were the sensations, the strength of the leader and his team, who did not miss Juan Ayuso, who took responsibility and surprised with the attack of Adam Yates as a prelude to Tadej's symphony.
The temperature of the stage increased as the day went on, cloudy and cool in the morning, the sun reigning already in the early afternoon, when the Pyrenean climbs began to pile up, three on Saturday that will be up to eight in a weekend to clear up uncertainties. And the first of all, none other than the Tourmalet, where 70 years were completed since the first time Bahamontes crowned it at the top, where Oier Lazkano paid tribute to him. The tireless Vitorian, always brave in this Tour that welcomes his running in agony, his legs of pure power; he passed at the front of the colossus, another Spanish putting his name there.
But the breakaway, increasingly reduced as the day progressed (the newcomer García Pierna was part of it at the beginning), had its hours counted. "I'm not the one who has to go on the offensive," Pogacar had warned, in that game of intentions, of hiding or showing, of lies and truths. But it was UAE Emirates that grabbed the race by the collar, especially on the ascent to Hourquette d'Ancizan, when Politt made way for Marc Soler and everyone lined up (Hindley, Enric Mas, Haig fell...), although the director of Visma Lease a Bike, the always sarcastic Grischa Niermann, also took refuge in irony in his (public) radio conversations: "UAE is riding at a decent pace, it's good for us, it's good for Jonas."
This time Josean Fernández Matxin played his cards well. The strategy executed to perfection. As Sivakov's pace did not seem demanding enough on the way to Saint Lary Soulan, he soon sent his praetorian Almeida, who picked up the pace. And Tadej whispered to Adam Yates the moment to strike, to send him ahead so that Jorgenson, Vingegaard's only teammate, would soon burn out.
It was with 4.6 kilometers to go when the leader unleashed his fury, an attack that no one could follow. He soon found Yates as an ally, a vital relay, seconds of oxygen and onwards to the top. Jonas approached, but did not close the gap. And the distance became significant, more seconds to add to a disadvantage that is already worrying for him. Shortly after, Remco Evenepoel arrived and not far behind was a Carlos Rodríguez who seems recovered, ready to fight for the podium until Nice.