'When we started, I had a full headache' - Tadej Pogačar lets Tour de France yellow jersey go to the breakaway after uncomfortably hot stage 4
Cyclingnews • • sports
Key Points:
- Tadej Pogačar, wearing the yellow jersey earlier in the Tour de France, relinquished it on stage 4 to Torstein Træen after a 34-rider breakaway gained significant time, placing Pogačar fourth overall, 7:53 behind the new leader.
- The extreme heat, with temperatures near 40°C, affected Pogačar, who experienced a headache at the start but managed to stay cool with the help of his teammates providing ice and water throughout the stage.
- Pogačar conserved energy by not chasing the breakaway and praised his teammates for their effective work distribution, allowing him to focus on recovery and reduce the physical and media obligations associated with the yellow jersey.
- Træen’s substantial lead may allow him to retain the yellow jersey through upcoming mountain stages, including the challenging Col du Tourmalet, though Pogačar remains determined to reclaim it.
- The ongoing heat and reduced pressure from not wearing yellow could aid Pogačar’s recovery, though he acknowledges the difficulty in quantifying this benefit amid the demands of the race and media duties.
