Tadej Pogacar extends Tour de France overall lead with stage 17 victory

Tadej Pogacar took a major step toward defending his Tour de France title with a perfectly executed 17th-stage win in the Pyrenees on Wednesday.

22-year-old Pogacar made his move with 8.5 kilometres to go on Col de Portet when he powered past previous leader Anthony Perez on his way to victory at 2,215 metres above sea level – the highest stage finish this year.

The Slovenian's time for the 178.4 kilometres - five hours three minutes and 31 seconds.

Jonas Vingegaard stayed on Pogacar’s wheel, finishing three seconds back with Richard Carapaz another second down. But Rigoberto Uran, who was previously second in the general classification, was unable to keep pace and dropped back to fourth overall.