The 109th Tour de France is entering the decisive phase. Today, Wednesday, the fourth mountain finish is on the programme. In Peyragudes, defending champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attack. For mountain king Simon Geschke (Cofidis), important points are at stake again.
Showdown at an altitude of 1580 metres
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar switches to attack. On the way to Foix, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard was able to confidently parry the attacks and defend his yellow jersey. "I was expecting attacks. I'm still in the yellow jersey and have the same lead. Everything is fine," said Vingegaard, who is 2:22 minutes ahead of Pogacar. Today, the fourth mountain finish awaits in Peyragudes, where Pogacar is likely to look for his chance again. One day later follows the next mountain finish in Hautacam.
Just not Corona again
Simon Geschke tested positive at the Olympic Games in Tokyo a year ago. Instead of riding his racing bike, he spent more than a week in a quarantine room. Now the virus could once again throw a spanner in the works and shatter his dream of a mountain jersey in Paris. Because his room-mate Maximilian Walscheid has tested positive. "I'm not so anxious about things like that because it's out of my hands. We'll test and hope. There is a new rule that you can continue to ride despite a positive test. But if it's not possible, that's the way it is," said Geschke, who extended his lead in the mountain classification on the first stage of the Pyrenees. He has already picked up the white kit with the red dots eight times.
New hope at Bora-Hansgrohe
Russian captain Alexander Vlasov moved up to eighth place in the overall standings after being part of the breakaway group on Tuesday. At least fourth place overall is back within reach. "Now I still have to make it to Paris. They won't let me back into an escape group," said Vlasov. The Bora-team has been unlucky so far and is still waiting for a stage win.
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