"Dropping Out": Pogacar Tumbles, Offers GrATitudes to Rivals
### Tour de France 2023: Pogacar Falls but Holds Second Place
The Tour de France 2023 has been a thrilling race so far, with riders facing challenging climbs and unexpected incidents. In the latest stage, Tadej Pogacar, the World champion, narrowly missed his third Tour stage win, finishing third.
Pogacar's race was not without incident. He crashed a few kilometers before the finish in Toulouse, colliding with the rear wheel of a rider in front of him. Despite the fall, Pogacar reached the finish line unharmed, expressing relief and admiration after the race. His team confirmed that he did not suffer a concussion or fractures, only bruises and scrapes on his left forearm and hip.
Meanwhile, Mathieu van der Poel missed his third Tour stage win, finishing third in the latest stage. The Dutch rider is now 3:34 minutes behind Ben Healy in the general classification. Remco Evenepoel, who is in third place, is 1:29 minutes behind Healy.
The Pyrenees stages are approaching, with the first one starting in Auch on Thursday. The riders must cross the 1,474-meter-high Col du Soulor before the final climb in the first Pyrenean stage. The stage covers 180.6 kilometers with 3,850 meters of elevation gain, providing a gruelling test for the competitors.
The Pyrenees trilogy is coming up in the Tour de France, offering some of the most challenging and exciting stages of the race. These stages are crucial for the general classification contenders as they provide opportunities to gain significant time over rivals.
In the meantime, Florian Lipowitz, a German hopeful, shook hands with Pogacar after the race, showing sportsmanship and camaraderie despite the competitive nature of the Tour.
For the 2025 Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar is a strong favourite to win, having shown consistent form throughout the season. Jonas Vingegaard is also a top contender but faces challenges from Pogacar, as evidenced by their competitions in earlier races like the Dauphiné. Mattias Skjelmose has returned to form after health issues but lacks support for climbing.
If you're interested in more specific information about the 2023 Tour de France or updates on the 2025 Tour de France, feel free to ask.
Sports enthusiasts might be thrilled to see Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, both seasoned athletes in the sports world, aiming for victory in the Pyrenees trilogy of the Tour de France, a series of challenging and exciting stages that could significantly impact the general classification. Remco Evenepoel, another top competitor, trails Pogacar by only 1:29 minutes, adding an extra layer of tension to these crucial events.
