As it happened: Alpe d'Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France
Cyclingnews • • sports
Key Points:
- Tadej Pogačar made history by breaking Marco Pantani’s nearly 30-year-old record for the fastest ascent of Alpe d'Huez, securing a dramatic solo stage victory while wearing the yellow jersey.
- The queen stage included challenging climbs of Galibier and Col de la Croix-de-fer before the iconic Alpe d'Huez, setting the stage for decisive battles in the overall Tour de France standings.
- Remco Evenepoel delivered a strong performance, finishing second overall and maintaining a comfortable lead over third-place Isaac Del Toro, with the podium and white jersey contests still open.
- Richard Carapaz took the lead in the King of the Mountains classification, while Lenny Martinez improved his general classification position, highlighting a day of significant shifts among the top contenders.
- The race featured intense tactical moves, including multiple attacks by key riders, and was marked by large, enthusiastic crowds on the Alpine climbs, underscoring the stage’s historic and dramatic significance.
