Pogacar wins first of trio of mountain top finishes at the Dauphine

Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian cycling sensation, showcased his unrivaled prowess in the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné on Friday, surging to victory and reclaiming the coveted yellow jersey

This win marks Pogacar's 97th career victory, placing him alongside French sprinter Arnaud Démare as the active rider with the most wins.

Pogacar finished the stage with an impressive time of 1 minute and 1 second ahead of Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, who has been a formidable rival throughout the competition. Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel, who had previously led the overall classification, crossed the finish line in fifth place, trailing Pogacar by 1 minute and 50 seconds.

With this victory, Pogacar has established a significant lead in the overall standings, boasting a 43-second advantage over Vingegaard, a 54-second lead over German Florian Lipowitz, and a 1 minute and 22 second gap over Evenepoel.

"I'm super happy to be back in yellow. It was a very good day for us," said Pogacar after his triumph. "I'm getting very good answers from this Dauphiné. I wasn't too stressed after the time trial on Wednesday, and the shape is here."

The stage was marked by intense competition under the scorching sun, and Pogacar delivered a masterclass performance on the Cote de Domancy. This climb served as a significant battleground, as it was the site of Vingegaard's earlier victory over Pogacar during the time trial at the 2023 Tour de France. With 7 kilometers remaining, Pogacar unleashed a powerful acceleration that left his competitors behind, with only Vingegaard able to briefly stay on his wheel before conceding.

This victory serves as a critical statement from Pogacar, reinforcing his status as a leading contender heading into the Tour de France. Following a lackluster performance in Wednesday's time trial, Pogacar's resurgence in the mountains is a promising sign for his title defense.

Looking ahead, Saturday’s queen stage promises to be an exhilarating challenge, featuring a daunting 132-kilometer route from Grand-Aigueblanche to Valmeinier 1800. As Pogacar prepares to tackle this next leg of the race, cycling fans worldwide are eager to see if he can maintain his momentum and further extend his lead.

VIDEO: Stage 6 Highlights

Stage 6 Top 10

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 2:59:46
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:01
3. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +1:22
4. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:30
5. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +1:50
6. Alex Baudin (Fra) EF Education-EasyPost, +1:56
7. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X, +2:03
8. Louis Barré (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty, +2:04
9. Ben Tulett (GBr) Visma-Lease a Bike
10. Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, both at same time

General classification after Stage 6

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 21:35:08
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +43s
3. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +54s
4. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +1:22
5. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:41
6. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla, +2:28
7. Louis Barré (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty, +2:39
8. Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, +2:49
9. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X, +3:21
10. Ben Tulett (GBr) Visma-Lease a Bike, +3:26