Libourne (France) (AFP)

Less than two days after the search in the hotel of his Bahrain team, the Slovenian champion Matej Mohoric won solo the 19th stage of the Tour de France, Friday, in Libourne, two days before the arrival in Paris.

An answer or a challenge?

Mohoric mimed the gesture of closing his mouth to critics when he crossed the finish line, well before the arrival of the peloton and the yellow jersey, his compatriot Tadej Pogacar, quiet leader on this hot day.

The Bahrain team for which Mohoric (26 years old) has been running since 2018 is targeted by the Marseille prosecutor's office which opened a preliminary investigation on July 3 of the heads of "acquisition, transport, possession, import of a substance or method" of doping.

"I thought about what had happened 48 hours ago when I was treated like a criminal", reacted Mohoric who then explained his gesture: "It does not mean + shut up +. We respect the authorities and be transparent. We have cooperated. "

But "I wanted to respond to all the people who question my performance," added the Slovenian, referring to all the sacrifices made to get to the Tour in this level of form.

"There were checks but nothing was found," continued Mohoric about the search carried out by the gendarmes.

"It's always complicated to see a policeman come into the room, search, ask questions. But I have nothing to hide, they can search."

- Pogacar without pressure on stopwatch -

Already winner at Le Creusot of the 7th stage, the longest of the Tour, Mohoric won his second personal success, the third for his formation which also triumphs in the team classification.

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"We are one of the best teams in the world," assured the former world champion in juniors (2012) and hopes (2013).

An irrefutable observation if we stick to the results alone, since his teammates stood out at the Giro and the Dauphiné before the Tour.

In Libourne, where he left behind his breakaway companions at the threshold of the last 25 kilometers (second place for Christophe Laporte), Mohoric continued the Slovenian cycling series which never ceases to win.

Three times in three days after the two successes of Pogacar in the arrivals at the top, at the Col du Portet and at Luz-Ardiden.

A series in progress?

Pogacar, already winner of the first time trial in Laval (5th stage), favorite part of the 30.8 kilometer "stopwatch" crossing the vineyards between Libourne and Saint-Emilion.

With the Belgian Wout van Aert and the Swiss Stefan Küng, for whom the exercise serves as a full-scale rehearsal before the Olympic time trial of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled in ten days.

- Merckx's wish for Cavendish -

"I will tackle this time without pressure," assured the wearer of the yellow jersey, who had overturned the 2020 Tour in a similar exercise, on the eve of the finish, but with an ascent (La Planche des Belles Filles) to finish .

"I don't feel any stress".

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Contrary to usual, the stakes seem limited for the general classification.

Both for the yellow jersey, firmly attached to the shoulders of the defending champion (5 min 45 sec ahead!), And for the podium.

Unless the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz achieves an exploit, who is only 6 seconds behind the Danish revelation Jonas Vingegaard, a priori better wheeler than him.

The classification by points is also close to its final form.

Failing to play the stage victory which would have allowed him to overtake Eddy Merckx in the number of successes (34), Mark Cavendish has come a little closer to the green jersey which seems promised to him.

Before leaving Mourenx, + Cav + received congratulations from Merckx, on an exceptional visit to the Tour.

"I hope you will win the 35th," said the cycling legend to the Briton.

But, for the wish to come true, it will be necessary to wait until at least Sunday evening, on the Champs-Elysées.

© 2021 AFP