"Tadej Pogacar relinquishes the Tour de France's yellow jersey to Van der Poel during stage six, according to his statement of joy"
Tadej Pogacar Adopts a More Defensive Strategy in the 2025 Tour de France
In a departure from his usual aggressive style, Tadej Pogacar employed a more calculated and defensive approach during the 2025 Tour de France. This strategy, which resulted in his fourth Tour victory, saw him win four stages, fewer than the six he claimed in 2024.
In the final week of the race, Pogacar, with a substantial lead of over four minutes, opted for a more conservative strategy. His team manager acknowledged that this defensive approach was contrary to Pogacar’s nature, who is known for his attacking instincts, but it was necessary to maintain the yellow jersey comfortably.
This period of racing more defensively was neither fun for Pogacar nor entertaining for spectators, marking a significant strategic shift from his usual aggressive style. However, Pogacar's new approach demonstrated maturity and a focus on long-term success rather than stage counting or spectacle.
During the race, Pogacar allowed Mathieu van der Poel to jump back into the race lead on stage six, a decision that was reversed the following day. This was the only time Pogacar has lost a race he was leading, with the 2022 Tour de France being the only exception.
Pogacar's team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, contributed significantly to the team's strategy on stage six. Nils Politt and Marc Soler, among others, worked tirelessly to ensure Pogacar maintained his position in the race.
Visma, another team in the race, may have been riding all out on the last two kickers of stage six due to information about Mathieu van der Poel suffering and losing time during the race. However, Visma may have also wanted to give Pogacar the yellow jersey on stage six.
Pogacar, in second place, trails van der Poel by a single second, while he has an advantage of 42 seconds on GC to Remco Evenepoel and 1:13 to Jonas Vingegaard, primarily due to the time trial. Pogacar is expected to be back in yellow after stage seven, with the finish at Mûr de Bretagne expected to be contested by him, Van der Poel, and Vingegaard.
This new strategic approach by Pogacar has been hailed as a testament to his growth as a racer. Post-race ceremonies and media commitments typically don't faze Pogacar, but this year he is happier to give them up for a short while, focusing on his racing and recovery.
[1] Tour de France Official Website - 2025 Tour de France Results [2] Cycling News - Pogacar's Defensive Strategy in 2025 Tour de France [4] Velonews - Pogacar's Calculated Approach in 2025 Tour de France
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