Primoz Roglic, new yellow jersey for the Tour de France after the ninth stage between Pau and Laruns, September 6, 2020. -
Marco Bertorello / AP / Sipa
Two years after winning at Laruns, Primoz Roglic finished second this Sunday in the city of Béarn.
The Slovenian takes the yellow jersey of the Tour de France.
If he seems dominant and supported by a strong Team Jumbo-Visma, he is only 21 seconds ahead of Egan Bernal, the winner of last year.
Winner of the second Pyrenean stage, his young compatriot Tadej Pogacar also seems able to worry the thirty-something, whose intentions we sometimes struggle to understand.
From our special correspondent in Laruns,
Laruns is therefore a Slovenian enclave in Béarn.
Two after Primoz Roglic's victory at the first arrival of the Tour de France in the peaceful city of 1,200 inhabitants, it was his compatriot Tadej Pogacar who won this Sunday, at the end of a stage (almost) as thrilling. than the day before between Cazères-sur-Garonne and Loudenvielle.
Roglic was not far away: about a half a wheel from the 21-year-old prodigy.
Enough to grill another “kid”, the Swiss Marc Hirschi (22 years old), the unfortunate hero of this pretty cavalcade caught up with 1,600 meters from the finish.
Enough also to don the yellow jersey, to the detriment of Adam Yates, who ended up cracking after resisting as best he could the day before, when the favorite of the race had not seemed to want to kick the Englishman out of his throne wavering.
Victory for Tadej Pogacar!
The Slovenian wins in the sprint ahead of Primoz Roglic and Marc Hirschi!
Beaten on the line, Roglic still takes the yellow jersey at the end of this eventful stage # TDF2020
▶ Follow Vélo Club live: https://t.co/gP0FfF9kTO pic.twitter.com/GrjYlxWDqs
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) September 6, 2020
After nine days of racing and a very nice Pyrenean parenthesis, the captain of Team Jumbo-Visma (30) has therefore donned the tunic of the leader of the Tour for the first time in his career.
And again showed that he seemed to be the most aerial of this Tour, but only to defend himself from the attacks of Pogacar and Bernal.
Not to be "the man to be slaughtered"?
“Any runner who starts cycling dreams of wearing this jersey at least once in his life,” replied the former ski jumper to a somewhat teasing colleague, who observed that he had not yet seemed so in a hurry to get it back.
“I think the jersey taking was scheduled tonight [Sunday], says Steve Chainel, consultant for Eurosport.
There, there is the day of rest, two stages for the sprinters and the fight will then resume, with arrivals at altitude.
But why didn't you insist before?
"When you have the yellow jersey, you are the man to kill," continues the consultant.
Even if from the start of the race, Roglic has been running as a boss with Team Jumbo-Visma as Sky did before, as if he had the jersey.
"
Much effort, little gap
The Slovenian also praised the work of his team, still omnipresent this Sunday, especially in the terrible climb of the Marie-Blanque pass.
As has often been the case since the start of this edition, the Kuss, Bennett, Dumoulin and others have fought for their leader.
But this colossal job resulted in a slim lead overall over Egan Bernal, yet not irresistible in this first week of racing.
“There is a small tactical fault, judge Steve Chainel.
Bernal has put out his tongue for eight stages and he's only clocking 21 seconds.
Saturday for example, there was a way for Roglic to take a lot more time on him with Pogacar and Quintana.
"
However, last year, the young Colombian (23 years old) had gradually gained in speed to fly over the Alps and the end of the race, then finish in yellow in Paris… “It's always a fight for every second, evacuates Roglic.
I am very, very happy with my position.
Many things are going to happen to each of us by the time we arrive in Paris.
"
"Roglic is already at 100%"
Steve Chainel also strongly believes in the progress of Bernal, who “trained four months at altitude [in the spring], against three weeks in Tignes for Roglic.
For me, the Slovenian is already at 100% while the Colombian will raise his level of performance ”.
If ever Roglic is not in yellow on the Champs, it will be difficult not to think back to those Pyrenean stages where he seemed so sovereign but refused to attack.
A Tour, when you can kill it, you kill it.
Beware of contact between Roglic and Pogacar!
The two Slovenians sprint to the top of the Marie Blanque pass, Roglic passes, but is on the verge of knocking down his compatriot!
More fear than harm # TDF2020
▶ Follow step 9 live video: https://t.co/gP0FfF9kTO pic.twitter.com/kDhdlFT2zE
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) September 6, 2020
For the thirty-something, the main threat could in fact be called Pogacar, which he readily recognizes that he is "perhaps the strongest at the moment" and with whom he almost fell at the top of Marie-Blanque.
Seventh at just 44 seconds, the kid from Komenda quickly digested his Friday meatball between Millau and Lavaur, when he was trapped in a border.
The leader of UAE Team Emirates flew over the climb of Peyresourde on Saturday, without the Jumbo managing to control him.
Before winning his first stage in the Tour on Sunday for his first participation.
Pogacar "aims for the general classification"
And the boy, despite his inexperience, is not one to hide.
"I am aiming for the general classification," he blurted out, barely getting off the official podium at Laruns.
This is what I came for.
I wasted some time [Friday] but that doesn't mean much.
"Pogacar will have a referee role," observes Steve Chainel.
Since he lost time, it has uninhibited him.
As soon as he can attack, he does.
"
The great explanation will resume on Tuesday, the day after the rest day.
So much the better for the show.
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