Pogacar wins Tour de France stage three and seizes yellow jersey from Vingegaard

Stage victory and yellow jersey

Tadej Pogacar won the third stage of the Tour de France on Monday, attacking in the final 200 metres of the climb to Les Angles to beat Jonas Vingegaard by two seconds. The Slovenian also collected four bonus seconds more than his Danish rival, erasing the six-second deficit he had at the start of the day. The two are now level on time, but Pogacar wears the yellow jersey thanks to better stage-finishing positions across the opening three days.

Of course, to take the yellow jersey is the dream for any cyclist of any age. For me it's, I don't know which time already, but every time I can get it again on my shoulders, it feels really special.

The stage win was the 22nd of Pogacar's Tour career, equalling André Darrigade for fifth on the all-time list. Mark Cavendish holds the record with 35.

Overall standings

Pogacar and Vingegaard share the same overall time. Remco Evenepoel sits third at 23 seconds, followed by stage two winner Isaac Del Toro at 24 seconds and Juan Ayuso at 27 seconds. French teenager Paul Seixas, who finished fourth on the stage in the same time as Vingegaard, remains sixth overall at 48 seconds.

Breakaway and team tactics

An 18-rider breakaway formed after 70 kilometres and built a maximum lead of three minutes. UAE Team Emirates then took control of the peloton, cutting the gap to one and a half minutes before reeling in the escapees on the final climb. Alex Baudin, the best-placed rider in the break, collected enough mountain points to claim the polka dot jersey. Del Toro, Sunday's stage winner, led out Pogacar for the decisive sprint.

It's because of Isaac today (that) I got some extra power in the final. He committed more than 100 percent in the final climb and all the team actually.

Wildfires and roadside crowds

Race organisers had asked fans to stay away from the finish area because of wildfires burning roughly 70 kilometres from Les Angles. Despite the plea, large numbers of spectators lined the roads in France.

Next stage

Tuesday's fourth stage runs 163 kilometres from Carcassonne to Foix, featuring two second-category climbs, one third-category and one fourth-category ascent.