Leader of the Tour de France after two stages but tied on time with Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Carapaz, Slovenian Tadej Pogacar could lose his yellow jersey even if he finishes in a mass sprint this Monday in Turin at the end of the 3rd stage.
After Romain Bardet and Tadej Pogacar, who will wear the yellow jersey on Tuesday during the 4th stage of the Tour de France? Given the profile of the 3rd stage, this Monday, between Piacenza and Turin, the probability that the race will be decided by a mass sprint is high. Enough to suit the Slovenian? Not sure.
Because if the double winner of the Grande Boucle is leader of the general classification, he is tied on time with three rivals: Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz. The UAE rider is only ahead of them thanks to the best places accumulated during the first two stages: 18 for Pogacar (14th Saturday and 4th Sunday), 20 for Evenepoel, 29 for Vingegaard and finally 32 for Carapaz.
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This unique scenario could therefore be repeated on Monday in the streets of Turin. In the event of a mass sprint, it will therefore be necessary to decide between the riders who finished at the same time based on a new cumulation of their positions over the first three stages. In addition to the winner of the stage, we will therefore also have to monitor the places occupied by the Slovenian, the Belgian from Soudal – Quick Step, the Dane from Visma Lease a bike and the Ecuadorian from EF Education–Easy Post.
Will Tadej Pogacar be at the forefront? Not sure either. Especially if we think back to the statements made by his boss, Mauro Gianetti, on Sunday about the yellow jersey: “We don’t have to keep it. There are 21 teams that also have tactics and we’ll have to deal with them.”
