Pogačar Dominates in Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 7

Issoire, France — Tadej Pogačar showcased his dominance in the Critérium du Dauphiné by winning the queen stage on Saturday, strengthening his overall lead before the final stage. The race’s seventh stage featured three major climbs over 132 kilometers, ultimately allowing Pogačar to secure his 98th career victory.

Pogačar’s impressive performance came after a strategic race against top competitors like Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz. He finished the stage in a remarkable 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 0 seconds, 14 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 1 minute and 21 seconds ahead of Lipowitz. This win put Pogačar firmly in command of the overall classification, leading Vingegaard by a full minute and remaining 4 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who fell off the podium.

The stage began with a sharp ascent at the Col de la Madeleine, which set the tone for the rest of the race. Throughout the climbs, Pogačar displayed exceptional climbing skills, marking him as the rider to watch heading into the Tour de France next month.

“It was a tough day,” Pogačar said after the race. “Every climb tested me, but I’m happy with how I performed and the lead I’ve built.”

Vingegaard and Lipowitz put up fierce competition, but they struggled to keep pace with Pogačar, especially on the final climb to Valmeinier 1800, where he made an explosive move that sealed his victory. The result left Pogačar on top of the mountains classification, further solidifying his status as a favorite for the upcoming Tour de France.

The final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné will conclude on Sunday, offering one last opportunity for competitors to challenge for positions before the Grand Départ of the Tour de France on July 5.