Tadej Pogacar is being modest and talking about luck

The words of Tadej Pogacar

Tadej Pogacar finishes the fifth stage of the Tour de France (Lille-Arenberg) in seventh place after 157 km and 11 sectors of cobblestones, a tribute to Paris-Roubaix.

Day that saw a six-rider breakaway launched just after the start, with the GC men defending themselves in the peloton as they awaited the difficult second half of the race.

At km 80, here came the first cobbled section and the stage got into full swing. Pogacar was good at staying in the front of the peloton at all times, avoiding the many crashes that along with punctures and mechanical problems marked today’s day.

With 20 km to go, the Slovenian attacked along with Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo). The duo broke away from the group, making up more and more ground on the men in the breakaway, with their pursuers no longer able to mend the tear.

Stage victory played out in the final sprint between the day’s escapees, with Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) getting the better of everyone.

The UAE Team Emirates leader finished in seventh place, losing one position in the General, but gaining precious seconds on all direct rivals.

“I was afraid of all the dangers that could happen today and I was lucky in a stage with many pitfalls. The team supported me the best they could in the first part, before the cobbled sectors, then I just tried to give my best by following Stuvyen and doing my best. It was a day where we aimed to stay safe and defend ourselves, I also managed to gain something so I can only be positive about that,” Pogacar commented.