Reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar dominates the stage five time trial

Tadej Pogacar moved into pole place in the Tour de France with victory in the stage five time trial, whereas Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic battled via the ache barrier to restrict time losses.

Pogacar, who dramatically rode into yellow in the stage 20 time trial final September, couldn’t fairly repeat the feat as Mathieu van der Poel put in the time trial of his life to retain the chief’s jersey by eight seconds.

But Pogacar’s victory on the day — 19 seconds forward of European time trial champion Stefan Kung — was a serious assertion lower than per week into his title defence. 

Tadej Pogacar celebrates following his victory in the stage five time trial on Wednesday

Pogacar produced a serious assertion in the time trial lower than per week into his title defence

The UAE Team Emirates rider accomplished the rolling 27km course in a time of 32 minutes flat, with the essential favourites grateful that early rain had cleared by the time they began.

Having been one in every of the few contenders to have prevented hassle throughout a bruising few days in Brittany, the Slovenian appears in a robust place.

Roglic, closely bandaged from his stage three crash, additionally appeared good as he clocked the seventh quickest time of the day — although he’s 1min 40sec down on Pogacar.

Mathieu van der Poel put in the time trial of his life to retain chief’s jersey by eight seconds

Welshman Thomas, who dislocated a shoulder on Monday, completed sixteenth on the day, conceding 78 seconds to Pogacar however transferring up six locations to twelfth total.

‘I believe I rode the finest TT I may,’ Thomas mentioned. ‘I went out conservatively, perhaps too conservatively, but it surely’s simply what I had.

‘I did not really feel 100 per cent however I do not wish to bang on about that. I attempted to do what I may and it wasn’t sufficient, actually.’

Geraint Thomas (pictured) and Primoz Roglic battled via ache barrier to restrict time losses