HAUTACAM, France (AP) — Tadej Pogačar powered to an impressive stage win on the first day in the Pyrenees to take back the Tour de France yellow jersey on Thursday.
On a day when many wondered if he would suffer any ill effects from his crash the day before, Pogačar showed none and put himself in prime position for his fourth Tour victory with a break on the stage-ending climb to Hautacam.
He finished more than two minutes ahead of main rival Jonas Vingegaard.
“You don’t know how the body reacts after the crash, but it was not too bad, it was not a bad crash,” said Pogačar, the defending champion. “I feel my hip only when I do acrobatics, but here I’m just riding the bike.”
Hautacam is the resort overlooking Lourdes and Stage 12 must have felt like a pilgrimage for all the riders. Ben Healy, who wore the yellow jersey for two stages, finished well behind on a brutal day for the Irish rider.