As it happened: UAE Team Emirates dominate Tour de France queen stage 19 to Isola 2000

Vingegaard accepts defeat on stage 19 with Pogačar now unreachable. From not knowing whether he was going to start the Tour due to his injuries from Itzulia Basque Country, to giving a great fight throughout, it’s been a much better Tour thanks to the two-time winner’s participation. He’ll most certainly be back to try and regain his crown in 2025 and hopefully, without a disrupted preparation. 

‘The fight for the win is over’ – Jonas Vingegaard concedes Tour de France title to Tadej Pogačar at Isola 2000

Another trip to the podium for Tadej Pogačar at the 2024 Tour de France. Tomorrow’s stage 20 will be the 17th day he had in yellow at the Tour, adding to the 19 days he wore pink at the Giro in May. It’s not only set to be the first Giro-Tour double since Pantani in 98′ but perhaps the most dominant ever…

With Pogačar stating post-race that UAE won’t pace for the stage win, it looks like we could get a stunning breakaway day tomorrow on stage 20, starting in Nice and finishing up the Col de la Couillole (15.7km at 7.1%).

It’s the final road stage of the 2024 Tour, with a race against the clock set to conclude the 111th edition on Sunday. Four climbs line the 132.8km route – Col de Braus, Col de Turini, Col de la Colmiane and the Col de la Couillole.

Vingegaard and Evenepoel could end up in a battle with the Belgian possibly looking to gain some time ahead of the stage 21 time trial where he can mount a bid for second. Those in the top 10 also aren’t too far apart on time so there should still be lots of actions throughout the day. 

Another great day in the breakaway saw Richard Carapaz (UAE Team Emirates) move into the lead of the King of the Mountains classification and polka-dot jersey. A stage win and jersey win would be huge for EF so he’ll be hoping to get into tomorrow’s breakaway and score more points up the four categorised climbs to stay ahead of Pogačar.

Top 5 standings in the KOM classification:

Carapaz: 101 points

Pogačar: 87 points

Vingegaard: 59 points

Jorgenson: 53 points

Eveneoel: 44 points

Make sure you read Stephen Farrand’s full race report from a historic day at the Tour de France and check out our growing gallery of the day’s racing:

Tour de France: Tadej Pogačar takes stunning solo win on stage 19 to secure yellow jersey

Moments after the gap was made by Pogačar from Evenepoel and Vingegaard on Isola 2000.

Some of the big stats for the superstar Slovenian today:

4th stage win of the 2024 Tour de France

10th Grand Tour stage win this season

The most days in a Grand Tour leader’s jersey in one season

81st professional win

15th Tour de France stage win – one more than Marcel Kittel, equal with Freddy Maertens and only one behind Jacques Anquetil

All done at the age of 25 by the sport’s best rider since the greatest men’s cyclist of all time Eddy Merckx.

Mark Cavendish’s quest to finish his final Tour de France is going well after crossing the finish line alongside two Astana Qazaqstan teammates some five minutes inside the time limit. The same cannot be said for Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), who rode valiantly all day on his own right in front of the broom wagon but he finished outside the time limit so will play no further part on the stage tomorrow or on Sunday. 

GC standings after stage 19

Here’s the big one then, the current GC standings at the Tour de France after stage 19 and Pogačar’s destruction of the GC field:

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): 78:49:20

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike): +5:03

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep): +7:01

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates): +15:07

Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep): +15:34

Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers): +17:36

Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates): +19:18

Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech): +21:52

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike): +22:43

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek): +22:46

Vingegaard is consoled by wife Trine at the finish after a brutally tough and emotional day on the Tour de France.

Here’s how Visma-Lease a BIke DS Grischa Niermann detailed Vingegaard’s performance after not being able to follow Pogačar and falling to seemingly insurmountable gap of 5:03:

“Of course, we still have plans for today, but in the end, Jonas had to win, Jonas had to make the call himself, because I cannot feel his legs, and he knows it better. And he was not strong enough today to follow Tadej and that was, that was clear,” he said. 

“He knew it before the final climb. So we switched plans. We decided that he was riding defensively, because also we saw that Pogačar wanted to win the stage, and the way, how UAE rode, was also clear that Pogačar was again, today, very strong.

We are, we are here with the dream, of course, to win the Tour with Jonas. But we are also realistic and we, of course, saw it also already the last days and last weekend that Pogačar is stronger. 

We still had hope and a plan for today, but in the end, you also have to be realistic and for the moment, Jonas is the second-best rider out there, and that’s it. We are really proud of him”

It wasn’t quite to be for Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) who again comes close but misses out on a Tour de France stage victory. It will come at some point, with only a top-form Tadej Pogačar able to deny him.

Not Tadej, Matteo… Jorgenson denied Tour de France stage win by flying Pogačar on Isola 2000

Here’s what the stage winner Pogačar had to say after another stunning victory on the Tour de France:

“Queen stage of Tour de France, now I can confirm Bonette is a really scary climb on the race. In training, it’s pretty cool because you can skip the last kilometre but I’m super happy that I had good legs today,” he said, confirming how helpful the knowledge of the area from training camp was.

“We were training here for the whole month between the Giro and Tour and it’s a hard time because there’s no easy days. I knew this climb [Isola 2000] super well and I was speaking to teammates about how we were going to race this day. We did it exactly like we said – to the point where I attacked. 100% perfect.”

It was a quite ridiculous performance from UAE Team Emirates’ whole team, who destroyed the peloton on the Cime de la Bonette before Pogačar dealt the killer blow.

“We were setting a good pace on Bonette. Maybe Jonas would try there, that was my initial thought but they were riding really super fast in the front so I think the main goal was to take the stage but… I take that,” said Pogačar of Vimsa’s tactics, before revealing that they will let the break go tomorrow.

“I’m super happy, it’s quite a margin and tomorrow I must say – I can just enjoy the stage and we let the breakaway go and maybe enjoy the roads where we were training before the Tour.”

It’s a fabulous four for Pogačar after crossing the line, adding to his win in Valloire in stage 4 and duo of Pyrenean successes last weekend. 

Stage 19 top 10

Here’s how the top 10 looked on a crazy stage at the Tour de France:

Tadej Pogačaer (UAE Team Emirates): 4:04:03

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike): +0:21

Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla): +0:40

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost): +1:11

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep): +1:42

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike): st

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates): +2:00

Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep): st

Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike): +2:52

Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech): +3:27

Here’s how Pogačar’s teammates took in their leader making more history at the Tour de France:

“That was the plan. Everyone did a great job today like always. The guys did training camp here, they know the roads and it was close to the final but I’m really satisfied with the work we did so we can be proud of ourselves,” said João Almeida.

“Tadej is probably in his best shape ever, he’s incredible. It’s even unbelievable how strong he is. Personally, I’m super happy to be part of this like history in the end.”

“We just did our pace. Tadej has shown in the last few mountain days he’s in really good shape and if we do a good pace, he can attack and do a crazy pace, a crazy power so we just try and go as hard as possible for him and off he goes,” said Adam Yates.

The winning moment from a true showman. History at the Tour de France from Tadej Pogačar. 

An emotional Vingegaard is welcomed by his wife and teammate Jorgenson, who console him at the line – the American uttering the words “You gave everything, that’s all that matters”. He may have been beaten by Pogačar but it’s quite stunning to think of where he was in April – on a stretcher and fearing for his life in hospital, to holding second at the Tour de France on his return to racing. Chapeau Jonas. 

He gave a huge bow over the line when he won the stage with a double ascent of Monte Grappa in the Giro d’Italia and he mirrored the celebration at the top of Isola 2000 after repeating the stunning feat on the queen stage of the Tour de France. A performance of a generation from the best rider cycling has seen since its greatest Eddy Merckx in the 70s. 

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) wins stage 19 of the Tour de France and extends his lead!

 What a performance and the Slovenian superstar moves another step closer to history and will become the first rider since Marco Pantaini in1998 to win the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same season. 

It’s going to be an 81st career win and the 10th Grand Tour stage win of the season, not his career – just the 2024 season. Truly incredible from Tadej Pogačar. 

1km to go

Flamme rouge taken and Pogačar can enjoy it now. 

Evenepoel and Vingegaard are still together but nowhere near Pogačar, 1:33 down the mountain. 

Now we wait to see just how big the lead will be at the line. It’s going to be more than five minutes that is for sure. 1500 metres remaining. 

It’s been a great ride in the break from Jorgenson but the dream is over and Pogačar kicks out of the saddle to ensure there is no chance for him to respond. Incredible strength and an knockout blow at the 2024 Tour de France.

2km to go

This is the 2024 Tour de France being won here and now as Pogačar is welcomed through a hall of Slovenian flags. Just 10 seconds now from breaking Jorgenson’s heart after pulling back almost three minutes in a matter of kilometres. 

He didn’t lie when he said pre-Tour that this is the best he’s ever been and he isn’t stopping. Yates caught, dropped and now only one man remains in the way of Pogačar’s 15th Tour de France stage win

Gap down to 20 second from Pogačar to Jorgenson and it really is quite remarkable how much faster the yellow jersey is going than those in front who, despite being in the break all day, are top class riders. 

3km to go

The kilometres tick by and so does Pogačar’s deficit. He’s destroying this climb to Isola 2000, with Carapaz swept up and Yates and Jorgenson now well within his sights. 

Evenepoel attacks Vingegaard as he looks to crack him and leapfrog him for second overall. The Dane responds well and Evenepoel continues on.

Pogačar is now within a minute from Jorgenson as he extends his lead to Vingegaard and Evenepoel behind. 

5km to go

Jorgenson himself is still going well by the looks of things as he enters the final 5km of the climb. Pogačar is advancing at quite the rate of knots, however, with the seconds to the yellow jersey from the stage lead disappearing by the pedal stroke. 

Gap down to 1:30 for Pogačar with Carapaz now fading and only Yates putting in a real chase to try and catch Jorgenson. 

Landa is back and pacing for Evenepoel behind on the climb, with Vingegaard and Almeida for company.

Pogačar is passing riders from the break and making them look as though they aren’t moving. Hindley and Kelderman both swallowed up already. 

7km to go

The good thing in Jorgenson’s favour is that the climb’s hardest part is the opening 10km which he is almost through. Sadly though, there is a yellow rocket coming up the road behind him.

Yates and Carapaz are fading and it’s now only Pogačar who can stop Jorgenson from achieveing a dream maiden win at the Tour de France. 

Now the question is – can he catch Jorgenson and break his heart? There’s a 2:18 gap between them on the road but that is quickly melting away. 

8.7km to go was the mark and he’s flown away has Pogačar. Vingegaard is looking at Evenepoel now and probably defending second, realising he cannot go with the superior Slovenian who is riding away to extend his lead. 

Attack

Pogačar goes! It’s the big attack we were all waiting for and he’s exploded away with Evenepoel and Vingegaard giving chase. 

9km to go

Carapaz and Yates are making good ground on Jorgenson who had extended his lead out to 30 seconds. It’s down to just 23 seconds and constantly changing. Jorgenson still just TTing away in his solid position on the bike at the front.  

Kelderman has finally been dropped by Carapaz who has attacked again to try and make the junction. Yates is off the Olympic Champion’s wheel but his rhythm looks good in the chase. 

10km to go

Buitrago dropped, Gee struggling to hold on and fighting. It’s only the best surviving in the flying group of GC men with Yates, Almeida, Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Landa the only remaining riders. Gee is hanging on but looks to suffering more. 

Whatever happens today, it’s been a super job from Jorgenson and Kelderman to try and win the stage without much doing in their GC plans. The American has extended his lead out to 25 seconds from the chasers, with Pogačar and co 3:14 down the mountain. 

The GC group is exploding behind as Ciccone, Mas and Rodríguez are all already dropped. Derek Gee continues to do a tremendous job on his debut at the Tour and he’s set to move up on GC if he can stay in this group of favourites for a while. 

Jorgenson has 15 seconds on the chasers and looks good in his rhythm, however, the UAE-led group of favourites is closing in now at a 3:17 gap. 

De Plus and Bernal have both dropped, leaving Rodríguez isolated now for Ineos in the GC group which is still led by Adam Yates who is chasing down his brother’s breakaway group. 

Carapaz is working hard and launches away to try and reel in the Visma man. Kelderman isn’t completely done as he marks the move alongside Yates. 

Attack

Jorgenson goes! Visma had been working brilliantly behind and perhaps the two in the front have been given full license to go for the stage win now that UAE have stopped any GC plans with their team dominance. 

Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is the next break rider to drop away as Kelderman continues to smash the front group. Yates, Jorgenson and Carapaz still on board.

14km to go

Pogačar and Yates were on the radio and it looks imminent that the race leader will explode away again at the Tour. Evenepoel and Vingegaard are locked in on his wheel to try and mark the inevitable move. 

Soler is done and it’s already Adam Yates time on the front of the peloton. All in for Pogačar now with the gap down to 3:43 in a flash. 

UAE Team Emirates lead the peloton onto the foot of the climb and it’s all in for the stage win. Pogačar has moved up and it’s the turn of Marc Soler to now shred the 3:50-deficit and allow his leader to show his superiority again. 

Christián Rodriguez is the first to drop out of the breakaway for Arkéa, leaving just five in front now – Hindley, Jorgenson, Kelderman, Carapaz and Yates.

Start of final climb

The six break riders are now onto the lower slopes as the climb begins, with UAE Team Emirates leading the peloton through four of Pogačar’s teammates some 4:04 behind. 

Here’s the profile of the brute that awaits. Isola 2000. Pogačar like many of the Tour peloton has trained and lived around here for altitude camp but now they are about to race up it and it couldn’t start any harder with constant slopes above 10%.

Reports are that it is raining at the finish line up in the ski resort. 

20km to go

Under 5km until the final climb to Isola 2000 now. The tension is building.

Jorgenson is asking for those in the break with him and Kelderman to work. They likely have different objectives but cooperation and a bigger gap can only help them all. 

Former Tour winner Bernal is back in after that mechanical. All eyes are on the final climb as the favourites group remains calm.

Bike change for Egan Bernal, he’ll want to get back in quickly so he can offer Ineos leader Carlos Rodríguez a turn on the final climb. 

Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) – to the joy of France TV – has made contact with the back of favourites after working very hard on the descent to rejoin the group. 

A look back at the stunning open roads at the top of the Cime de la Bonette. 

30km to go

There wasn’t the fireworks we perhaps expected on the Cime de la Bonette, with UAE Team Emirates working so well to put off Visma attacking the highest point of the race. But Isola 2000 and the final climb for the stage certainly will not disappoint. 

It’s going to downhill roads from now almost right until the foot of Isola 2000 and the final deciding climb on stage 19, which arrives 16.1km from the finish line. 

Situation at 40km to go

The breakaway group of six leading riders:

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
Christián Rodriguez (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)
Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla)

Peloton/group of GC favourites: +4:11

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – four teammates
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – all alone
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep…