Simply phenomenal

This year’s Tour concluded with one of the most unexpected and extraordinary twists seen in modern cycling. On Saturday Tadej Pogacar stunned compatriot Primoz Roglic and everyone watching with what was indisputably one of the most astonishing time trial performances in the race’s history.

- Peter Cossins

Going into the test at La Planche des Belles Filles on the penultimate day, there had been almost nothing to suggest that Roglic would be overly troubled as he prepared to take the final step towards the Tour crown. While his 21-year-old rival had beaten the Jumbo-Visma rider in the Slovenian time trial championship in July, the gap between the pair had been a mere nine seconds over 15 kilometres. What’s more, Roglic’s commanding victory in last year’s mid-Vuelta a España time trial over 36.2 kilometres – exactly the same distance as the Tour’s deciding test – seemed more meaningful asa guide to form. Pogacar finished 11th that day, 89 seconds in arrears on a rolling course.

Add in the morale boost Roglic admitted he’d got from gaining time on his young challenger at the summit of the Col de la Loze, where he pushed his lead out to 57 seconds, and the armchair ride that he’d been given by his Jumbo-Visma team-mates, and everything pointed to the older man taking the title.

Even when Pogacar gained a handful of seconds in the opening kilometres on the undulating road to La Planche des Belles Filles, this appeared likely to be no more than a final show of defiance before Roglic imposed himself. At that point, the battle for the stage win still looked more compelling than the duel for yellow.

Historic upset