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The Stage & the Tour! TdF24-142
It is normally and unusual sight to see a rider celebrating a victory as they cross the line in a time trial, but such was the ride of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) that he had more than enough time to enjoy the moment and win yet another stage. He wins the stage by just over a minute and the Tour by nearly six minutes. In the process he has won six stages, five of those in yellow. Notably, he won the last three stages this year. I think I heard that matches a record set some forty-five years ago. But then I suspect that Pogacar will be setting new records for many years to come.
Mark Cavendish knew this. When he was congratulated by Pogacar when he won his 35th stage, Mark told him, "Don't you break it!" He then playfully tapped his face and held it a moment. If Cavendish was a movie character in a mobster movie, that would be the pivotable threat of the plot. Pogacar's tally is now 16 stages and he is still only 25.