As the Olympic gold medalist cruised to a memorable victory at the famous hairpins, defending champion UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar began his challenge against race leader Jumbo-Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard, although the Slovenian was unable to make an impact and it is 2 minutes 22 seconds back to the second. Pidcock, who had ditched his Ineos Grenadiers team command for a free role, descended at 100kmh and climbed the 21 hairpins of the legendary Alpine climb faster than his breakaway mates to mark this year’s Tour. “Climbing Alpe d’Huez, the most iconic finish in cycling, at the top of the race, this is one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. Asked what his team’s plan was at the start in Briançon, Pidcock said: “To get me in the break and try to win the stage. Box checked.” Tokyo Olympic mountain bike champion, cyclo-cross world champion and multiple title holder in all cycling disciplines, Pidcock has long been ranked among the ‘Pogacar generation’ of multi-talented riders, including Slovenia’s Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert, capable of excelling on all terrains. Even so, a dominant stage win on a course as brutal as this was surprising. The 165km stage returned to the Col du Galibier, the platform for Vingegaard’s opening salvos at Pogacar’s lead during stage 11, where the Dane demolished Pogacar’s supposed unbeaten status. But on Bastille Day the pyrotechnics had a distinctly British feel: in a double act that spanned the generations, Pidcock joined forces with 37-year-old Chris Froome, now of Israel-Premier Tech, in pursuit of the day’s early attack. Tadej Pogacar (second left) keeps a close eye on yellow jersey wearer Jonas Vingegaard. Photo: Bernard Papon/AP “Froomey went and was in the middle,” Pidcock said, “and I thought I could dig into it a little bit on the other side. Chris Froome and I then went across to the Alpe d’Huez stage break. That was cool.” Pidcock’s dizzying descent from the top of the Galibier and down the slopes of the Croix de Fer at speeds of 100kmh was one of the most thrilling moments of the Tour and surprised the French TV commentators. Froome, clearly discretion was the better part of valor, let the 22-year-old accelerate just ahead. The heat, long climbs and the 30km descent from the Croix de Fer took their toll and as the breakaway began to climb through the 21 hairpins to the Alpe, the group was reduced to Intermarché-Wanty’s Pidcock, Froome and Louis Meintjes Gobert. Pidcock’s attack 10km from the finish saw him clear and he slowly eased away to seal a memorable victory and his team’s first success in this year’s race. But he is no shrinking violet and had made his intentions clear earlier in the match. “I’m not exactly satisfied with the experience, it’s a bit dull and boring,” he had said shortly after the tour began. “I want to do something and influence the race, that’s what I want to do. But driving, gaining experience, is boring.” Geraint Thomas, who moved up to third overall, four seconds behind Pogacar, is in the twilight of his career and Adam Yates is still unproven, so Pidcock is now the up-and-coming British talent on cycling’s biggest stage. He has no qualms about making his ambitions clear.
