Paris: Producing one of the finest displays of his career, UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Tadej Pogacar put his rivals to the sword on the Hautacam, winning stage 12 of the Tour de France and reclaiming the Yellow Jersey. Putting more than two minutes into the next-best rider, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Pogacar now leads the Tour de France by three and a half minutes.
According to Emirates News Agency, on the first summit finish of the race, Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG colleagues produced a vintage show of teamwork, with every rider stepping up to the mark to help the Slovenian pick up his 20th stage victory at the Tour de France. In doing so, the Emirati squad put their rivals on the back foot and ensured that Pogacar is now the man to beat heading into the final nine stages.
With his efforts on Hautacam, Pogacar made history by becoming the first reigning world champion to win a Tour de France summit finish since Bernard Hinault in 1981. Coming less than 24 hours after the tragic death of the promising Hagens Berman Jayco rider, Samuele Privitera, Pogacar dedicated his victory to the young Italian who sadly passed away after a crash at the Valle d'Aosta.