Tadej Pogačar says Tour de France is 'more or less decided' — 'Today the best man won'
UAE Team Emirates rider conceded a minute to Jonas Vingegaard on stage 18 of the Tour de France


It must be a difficult time to be Tadej Pogačar. After two years of it being widely thought that he was unbeatable, especially at the Tour de France, he cracked once again on stage 18, all but ending his defence of the yellow jersey.
Not that the Slovenian showed it, still beaming as he stood on the podium for what seems like the millionth time this race, this time for just the white jersey presentation.
On the climb to Hautacam, as on the Col du Granon on stage 11, the UAE Team Emirates' rider cracked, showed weakness, suffered for the attacking efforts that he put in earlier in the stage. There to take advantage was Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), who ended up taking 1-04 on the stage, meaning his advantage is now 3-26.
“I guess. Yes,” asked if his chances of winning yellow were now over in the post-stage mix zone.
"The Tour is more or less decided. I congratulated Jonas on today and on the Tour. I think he's won it."
There is still a 40km time trial on Saturday, and the chance of crosswind on tomorrow's largely flat stage, but it will be difficult to claw back three minutes, especially as Vingegaard looks so strong.
“There’s still one stage I can try to win and I’ll give my all until Paris, which is three days away," Pogačar added.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It was an eventful day for the 23-year-old, who attacked repeatedly on the ascent of the Col de Spandelles, without distancing his rival, and then crashed on the descent. Vingegaard waited for Pogačar after the incident, effectively neutralising the descent.
Then, after Jumbo-Visma's Sepp Kuss and Wout van Aert put in monster turns on the climb to Hautacam, Pogačar slid off the back of the lead group and eventually came in second, a minute after Vingegaard had crossed the line and effectively sealed the Tour.
“I gave it all today, I wasn’t thinking about the stage win, I was thinking about the yellow jersey," Pogačar explained.
“I gave it my all on the second to last climb, crashed on the downhill, gave it my all on the last climb but second place is the best for me. I think I did all I could and I think I can be proud of the result.”
“For sure it’s not nice to crash but I was pushing it and I crashed. It was my fault. Whatever, Jonas was really, really strong.”
As he had promised, Pogačar went down fighting, and will continue to race hard all the way to the bitter end, using all of his energy. He did not even blame the fact that he has just three teammates thanks to Covid and injury.
“There couldn’t be a better way to lose the Tour de France than this,” Pogačar said. “I gave it all today thinking of the GC. I will leave the race with no regrets.
“Jonas was the strongest and even with eight teammates it would have been hard to beat him, but maybe we would have had more chances to attack him in the last week."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
Casper van Uden sprints to victory in unusual TT helmet on Giro d'Italia stage 4
Dutchman beats Olav Kooij and Mads Pedersen in bunch kick in Lecce
-
Unmarked helmets, a new Campagnolo groupset, and fresh kit: Five of the best tech finds from the Giro d'Italia 2025
There's new equipment on display at the first men's Grand Tour of the year
-
Identical start, diverging destinies? The story of Adam and Simon Yates as they both race for pink at the Giro d'Italia
Adam and Simon Yates head to the Giro d’Italia on different teams and with different prospects. As their career paths diverge, does the brotherly bond endure?
-
Who could complete the Grand Tour hat-trick at the men’s Giro d’Italia?
Six male riders could become stage winners in all three Grand Tours this month
-
Tadej Pogačar was dominant at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but I hope for a competitive Tour de France
The Slovenian has finished on the podium of the last six Monuments, the first man to do so - when will he stop dominating?
-
Tadej Pogačar wins third Liège–Bastogne–Liège after 34 kilometre solo breakaway
Slovenian puts in decisive attack on the Côte de la Redoute as Giulio Ciccone grabs second with Ben Healy in third
-
Jonas Vingegaard confirms race schedule ahead of Tour de France
Danish climber will only ride the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, but will take part in two altitude camps
-
Tadej Pogačar flies to dominant victory at La Flèche Wallonne
Slovenian takes second win at Belgian classic ahead of Kévin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock
-
'The line was 5 metres too far' - Tadej Pogačar reacts to Amstel Gold Race second place
World champion reeled back and beaten in sprint by Lidl-Trek's Mattias Skjelmose
-
'If I were a tennis player then my career would be over': Remco Evenepoel contemplated early retirement after serious training accident
Double Olympic champion was left with nerve damage and says his shoulder is not yet fully healed ahead of his return to racing at Brabantse Pijl