Tadej Pogacar thought mainly of Samuele Privitera, who died in an accident on Wednesday, in the last kilometer of the twelfth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday. The Slovenian stage winner pointed to the sky after crossing the finish line in honor of the nineteen-year-old Italian.
Privitera died on Wednesday evening after a heavy fall in the Italian Giro Valle d’Aosta promise race. The Hagens Berman Jayco rider was known as a talented climber. Pogacar dedicated his stage victory to the cycling talent.
“This stage is also for Samuele’s family,” Pogacar said afterwards. “His death is very sad. It was the first thing I read this morning. I often thought about him in the last kilometer and how tough this sport can be.”
Pogacar rode away from Jonas Vingegaard and his other competitors on the Hautacam. The defending champion had a lead of more than two minutes over number two Vingegaard at the finish. Pogacar also takes over the yellow jersey from Ben Healy.
The leader of UAE Team Emirates noticed that he had little trouble from his fall on Wednesday. “Of course you never know how your body will react to such a fall, but it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t a serious crash. I only felt my hip when I did physical exercises, but I don’t have any problems when I ride a bike.”
Pogacar takes ‘revenge’ on Hautacam
Pogacar seems to have struck an important blow in the battle for the overall victory in the Tour on the Hautacam. In 2022, things went wrong for Pogacar on the same mountain. Then Vingegaard secured the overall victory by riding a minute away from Pogacar.
“Everyone came to me and said it was time for revenge,” said Pogacar. “When we arrived at the foot of the climb, it seemed for a moment as if history was repeating itself. I am very happy with the time gain and the stage victory.”
The Tour continues on Friday with a time trial climb of almost 11 kilometers. A mountain stage will follow on Saturday and a hilly stage is scheduled for Sunday. Monday awaits the peloton for the second rest day of this Tour.