![Pogacar expects Tour de France battle to explode in final week](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/99/02/2f/Pogacar-expects-Tour-de-France-batt-441216.jpg)
-
Play resumes on second day of England-Sri Lanka first Test
-
Taiwan sentences eight soldiers for spying for China
-
PSG coach Luis Enrique plays down prospect of more new signings
-
Key Indian hospital ends strike but doctor rape protests rage
-
Key Indian hospital ends stike but doctor rape protests rage
-
Djokovic targets Slam record at US Open, Sinner under cloud
-
Ceasefire hopes fade as Gaza fighting rages
-
Indonesians protesting election law changes clash with police
-
Hurzeler backs record-signing Rutter to be a 'big, big' player at Brighton
-
Stock markets buoyed by US rate cut hopes
-
England to host Zimbabwe in 2025, Lord's to stage first women's Test in 2026
-
India's Modi urges peace ahead of Ukraine visit
-
'Let us choose joy!' Oprah Winfrey urges US voters
-
Sicily divers seek final shipwreck missing after Lynch's body found
-
Israeli police say 4 arrested in settler attack on Palestinians
-
Rain delays second day of England-Sri Lanka first Test
-
War cook: Ukrainian soldier-influencer with fans on both sides
-
Kenya police offer reward for escaped serial killer suspect
-
S. Korean drill to prepare for attack met with confusion
-
French court dismisses appeal in Agent Orange case
-
War-battered Gaza faces uphill battle against polio
-
Floods swamp Bangladesh as nation finds its feet after protests
-
Asia tracks Wall St. rally after US jobs data, Fed minutes
-
Climate change a mixed blessing for sun-starved Irish vintners
-
Far-right firebrand Hoecke draws crowds in eastern Germany
-
Skiing in a Madrid shopping centre when it's 34C outside
-
Exclusive luxury and unforgettable moments: The Hotel Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco
-
S.Africa's daredevil autosport of spinning stokes passions
-
VP pick Tim Walz lauds Kamala Harris at Democratic convention
-
Swift says filled with 'fear', 'guilt' after Vienna terror threat
-
Kenyan Paralympian Wawira finds 'courage' in powerlifting
-
Five new faces to watch in the Bundesliga this season
-
Leverkusen eye repeat after 'magic' title triumph
-
Asia struggles to track Wall St up after US jobs, Fed minutes
-
'It wasn't working': All Blacks assistant coach MacDonald quits
-
Indonesia's first Paralympic archers take aim at gold
-
South Korean pet care goes high-tech with AI diagnostics
-
Fragile but unbroken, Afghan glassblowers refuse to quit
-
Volcanic eruption grounds flights in New Zealand
-
Five things to watch as F1 returns for Dutch Grand Prix
-
Australian penguin dies, ending famous 'same-sex power couple'
-
'It wasn't working': All Blacks assisant coach Leon MacDonald quits
-
Mpox disease presents hard-to-weigh risks
-
US stocks rise after dovish Fed minutes
-
Microsoft seeks to win over new players at gamer gathering
-
Keeping the faith -- and getting voters: Democrats get religion in Chicago
-
Romania detains Andrew Tate, raids home in new probe
-
Anger, despair as Israelis bury hostages who died in captivity
-
Portugal seeks EU help as wildfire threatens UNESCO-listed forest
-
Prosecutor takes aim at president's immunity in power struggle
![Pogacar expects Tour de France battle to explode in final week](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/99/02/2f/Pogacar-expects-Tour-de-France-batt-441216.jpg)
Pogacar expects Tour de France battle to explode in final week
Tadej Pogacar on Monday predicted fireworks in the final week of the Tour de France as defending champion Jonas Vingegaard prepares to launch a desperate attack for the title.
The 2020 and 2021 champion Pogacar leads the two-time defending champion Vingegaard by three minutes and nine seconds with six stages to go, three of which are potential game changers.
The 25-year-old Slovenian won two mountain stages last weekend but sits just over three minutes ahead of his Danish rival, and doubtless the 7min 29sec lead Pogacar let slip away in week three last year must be weighing on his mind.
"I think there will be more fireworks this week so we will have to remain focused," said Pogacar when asked about Vingegaard's assertion earlier Monday that the game was far from over.
"They are certainly planning something, maybe Friday or maybe Saturday, but not both," he predicted.
Pogacar is right to fear Friday due to the sheer altitude, as the Tour climbs to a rare 2,800 metres, and the high temperatures forecast.
But he was full of fight when asked about the day's stage.
"I like the Bonnette, I went up there last August, and I like the descent of the Isola," said Pogacar.
Saturday's stage 20 will be just as fearsome in terms of the amount of climbing and the heat expected.
"On Saturday the course is around where I live, so it'll be very much a home stage for me," he said.
Finally, Sunday's time-trial has a whiff of the 2023 time-trial about it -- where Pogacar also wilted.
"Jonas said he won't go home without a fight, I'll need as many of my riders around me as possible," said Pogacar, who will race alone Sunday with the race circumstances currently unknown and the outcome far from decided.
H.E.Young--AMWN