Abu dhabi: UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar extended his overall lead in the Tour de France after finishing second on stage 14 from Pau to Luchon-Superbagn¨res. The 182.6 km route featured a series of iconic climbs including the Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, and Col de Peyresourde, before ending in a summit finish.
According to Emirates News Agency, a large breakaway led for most of the stage after distancing the peloton on the Tourmalet. However, a steady tempo set by the yellow jersey group, driven by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, helped keep the gap in check. The breakaway gradually reduced over the climbs, leaving only Thymen Arensman of Ineos Grenadiers at the front.
Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard emerged as the dominant duo in the final stretch, distancing the rest of the field. Arensman took the stage win, while Pogacar crossed the line 1 minute and 8 seconds behind, followed by Vingegaard four seconds later. Pogacar now leads the general classification by 4 minutes and 13 seconds.
He commented on Arensman's performance, noting the rider's impressive strength in the breakaway. Pogacar also discussed the challenging conditions encountered during the stage, including thick fog and slippery roads during the descent from Tourmalet, which required a conservative approach.