As we arrive at the first rest day for the 2024 Tour de France, the race has well and truly lived up to expectation and has already delivered some of the most memorable racing seen in years. We've had a mountain stage, several sprint stages, an individual time trial, and a highly controversial yet enthralling gravel stage.
The highlight of the first week was Stage 4, with fans being treated to a thrilling battle in the French Alps. Despite being just 140KM long, it featured a punishing 3,600 meters of vertical gain. UAE Team Emirates, with Tim Wellens and Nils Politt at the front of the Pelton, controlled the breakaway and managed the early parts of the race expertly. As the stage progressed, the world-class UAE Team Emirates riders went to work. Firstly, Adam Yates took control, setting a blistering pace which resulted in a reduced group. Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida then worked in tandem to set up Tadej Pogačar, who launched a brutal attack with 900 meters to go. Only Jonas Vingegaard, the defending champion, was able to follow, but Pogačar's relentless pace allowed him to build an 8-second lead as he reached the summit of the Col du Galibier. Pogačar then delivered a descending masterclass, reaching a top speed of 100KM/H as he chased every second to build his advantage in the General Classification. After the race, Tadej Pogačar revealed that UAE Team Emirates executed their race plan 'really well', adding 'It was a dream stage, and I finished it off solo, it's incredible'.
Stage 5 of the Tour de France provided a golden opportunity for the sprinters, and all eyes were on Mark Cavendish as he chased history. The stage featured two categorized climbs before the sprinters could hit the front. Mark Cavendish did what Mark Cavendish does best; he picked his racing line perfectly, timed his move to perfection, and a produced a burst of power and acceleration to which no one could follow. The crowd witnessed history as he crossed the line to take his 35th Stage Win at the Tour de France, surpassing the legendary Eddy Merckx's record of 34 Stage Wins. The finish line was a scene of celebrations, tears, and relief as Cavendish, who has overcome incredible personal lows, finally etched his name into cycling history.
The first Time Trial of the Tour de France took place on Stage 7, with a challenging 25.3KM course that promised to kept fans on the edge of their seats. Remco Evenepoel, reigning World Champion, entered the stage as the favourite and despite a brief mechanical scare, lived up to the expectations to take his first stage victory. Tadej Pogačar put in a commendable performance and clocked a strong time, putting further time into closest rival Jonas Vingegaard.
As the Tour de France enters week 2, Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates maintain a strong grip on the Yellow Jersey. The Tour will soon enter the Pyrenees, with three mountain stages on the cards before the next rest day. Pogačar expressed his eagerness to head back into the mountains, stating 'I've not had much to look forward to, I can't wait to get into the mountains.' With back-to-back visits to the mountains on stages 14 and 15, the general classification contenders will be tested to the maximum, in what promises to be another enthralling week of the Tour de France.
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