The brilliant revenge of Tadej Pogacar in Hautacam, which knocked out the big loop where it had lost it in 2022

By winning in Hautacam on the 12th stage of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar erased the painful memory of 2022, when he had lost the big loop in this same pass.

When the story hits his door, Tadej Pogacar is not the type to hang out to open. The Slovenian prefers to rush to welcome him with open arms. On July 21, 2022, in the Pyrenean laces of Hautacam (13.5 km at 7.8% on average), the Slovenian had lost the large loop, of which he was then holding the title. After an incredible number of Wout Van Aert, Jonas Vingegaard had exploded him, three days from the final arrival in Paris. The Danish spun straight towards the first of his two Tour de France (2022, 2023). A memory that Tadej Pogacar wanted to erase.

“I look forward to Hautacam”announced the world champion during the rest day in Toulouse on July 15, salivating in front of the “Three very beautiful days of climb” in the Pyrenees. An all but trivial message, since it was in the Pyrenees that he most often imposed himself on the Tour with eight success, against four in the Alps. But despite his twenty victories on the big loop, the 21st century cannibal had not yet tamed Hautacam. What he did, Thursday, July 17, by knocking out the race. “He passed so quickly, he enlisted me. I have a flowing nose!”, even smiled at French Bruno Armirail, the last escape taken up by the Slovenian in the final ascent.

Despite his fall in the final of the stage the day before in Toulouse, Tadej Pogacar was expected on this first high mountain stage. By the public, but also by the whole peloton. “We talk about it between ourselves and even with UAE runners. Pavel Sivakov confirmed to me this morning that Pogacar wanted to take revenge with Hautacam. We are all aware”smiled Valentin Madouas (groupama-fdj) at the start, in Auch“It is possible that Pogacar folds the tour. He often tends to fist on the table in the places where he has already lost a lot. In Hautacam, I think he will hurt”anticipated Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon-Ag2r), departing from Toulouse, Wednesday.

Victim of a falling fall on Wednesday in Toulouse, Tadej Pogacar had calmed expectations a little: “Fortunately, I have only scratches, but I was afraid when I saw my head approaching the sidewalk. Hautacam, it's a big day, we will see how I recovered. Normally, the day after a fall, we are not at best but I will do my best tomorrow. In any case, as a team, we are ready for Hautacam”. What the Tadej Pogacar teammates confirmed, protecting their leader despite the pressure from the Visma-Lease A Bike by Jonas Vingegaard.

“Of course we tried, but Tadej was unbeatable today”also conceded Grischa Neerman, sports director of the Visma, not shot: however: “For the moment, it's the strongest. We're going to try again and again, we'll see what happens. If it's second place, we'll take it“. “We tried to isolate it. But they were strong. Even if we had all had great legs, Pogacar showed on the last climb that he could follow all the attacks, that would not have changed much”conceded Sepp Kuss, teammate of Jonas Vingegaard, on the finish line.

“Pogacar has shown how strong it is. We can do strategy, but faced with this level … We are not going to abandon, but you have to be realistic.”

Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a bike)

In Franceinfo: Sport

After eleven first days of racing he found “eventful and stressful”, Tadej Pogacar knocked out the 2025 edition from the 12 stage, finishing two minutes ahead of his first pursuer: his rival Jonas Vingegaard, now relegated to 3 minutes and 31 seconds to general. “It was very difficult, and then I thought back to the stage here, in 2022. I had it somewhere in a corner of my head. This time, I have won. I have a clearer mind. We worked very well”, Savor the world champion, after taking over the yellow jersey.

After 12 steps, Tadej Pogacar may have already killed the suspense on the 112nd edition of the Grande Boucle. But the Slovenian refuses to consider his fourth Tour de France as acquired. “The tour is not over!”he exclaimed. Tomorrow, we have the time trial on which we will have to be very strong, and Saturday is even harder. You have to stay calm, continue with this rhythm. We have a comfortable advance, but it's never finished before the line in Paris. “

If the sporting dynamics leave little room for the suspense, everything can still happen by the Champs-Elysées, as recalled by the fall of Tadej Pogacar in the streets of Toulouse. “Paris is still very far“, Temperated Joxean Fernandez Matxin, sports director of UAE Emirates, while projecting himself on the continuation of the Pyrenean program, with the time trial in Peyragudes, Friday, and the Dantesque sequence on Saturday: Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde and Superbagnères.

“Our main rivals in the general classification are still a little behind. They will have to attack. I expect it to be fast until the end of the week. This week is almost as difficult as the last”imagined Tadej Pogacar during the rest day on Tuesday in Toulouse. “We can observe big differences in the general classification in the days to come. I feel that it will be an interesting week”. Because if the Slovenian cannibal set his account with Hautacam, he is still hungry. Very hungry.