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Pogacar moves closer to a 3rd Tour de France title after dominant win in the mountains

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Pogacar moves closer to a 3rd Tour de France title after dominant win in the mountains
Sport

Sport

Pogacar moves closer to a 3rd Tour de France title after dominant win in the mountains

2024-07-19 23:06 Last Updated At:23:11

Tadej Pogacar took a giant step closer to clinching a third Tour de France title after winning another tough mountain stage on Friday, pulling away from Jonas Vingegaard to move five minutes ahead of his main rival with two days left.

The Slovenian looks almost certain to reclaim the Tour crown from Vingegaard, the two-time defending champion from Denmark, who is 5 minutes, 3 seconds behind him. Tour debutant Remco Evenepoel of Belgium is 7:01 adrift in third place.

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Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, bows when crossing the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, bows when crossing the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, flashes four finger for his fourth stage win during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, flashes four finger for his fourth stage win during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, turns back to see if he has enough lead as he approaches the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, turns back to see if he has enough lead as he approaches the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, follows Britain's Geraint Thomas, second right, and Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, right, as they ride in the pack with Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, follows Britain's Geraint Thomas, second right, and Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, right, as they ride in the pack with Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides with Spain's Mikel Landa, right, as they climb Cime de la Bonette pass, the highest road in Europe with an altitude of 2802 meters, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides with Spain's Mikel Landa, right, as they climb Cime de la Bonette pass, the highest road in Europe with an altitude of 2802 meters, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Pogacar attacked with about 9 kilometers (6 miles) left on the final climb of 16 kilometers (10 miles) to the Isola 2000 ski resort. Vingegaard could not follow as Pogacar chased after the Dane's Jumbo Visma teammate, Matteo Jorgenson. The American rider was alone in front with Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates just behind him.

Carapaz and Yates were caught by Pogacar, leaving just Jorgenson ahead. But he was also overtaken with two kilometers left as Pogacar soared to his fourth stage win at this year's race — holding up four fingers to the fans — and 15th Tour stage victory of his career.

After four hours in the saddle, Pogacar looked behind him one last time but none of his rivals were visible.

He raised both hands in the air as he crossed the line, with Jorgensen finishing 21 seconds behind and Yates 40 seconds back in third. Carapaz was 1:11 back in fourth spot.

Evenepoel placed fifth ahead of a disconsolate Vingegaard, with both riders timed at 1:42 behind Pogacar.

Saturday's 20th and penultimate stage stays in the southern Alps and features three hard category 1 ascents, the last taking the riders up Col de la Couillole.

The Tour ends Sunday on the French Riviera with a time trail from Monaco to Nice, and not in Paris as it usually does because of the Olympic Games.

Friday’s high-altitude stage may have been Vingegaard’s last chance to take significant time back from Pogacar.

Two of Vingegaard’s Visma teammates — Jorgensen and Dutchman Wilko Kelderman — positioned themselves at the front of a small breakaway and set a strong pace in hot conditions.

The 145-kilometer (90-mile) trek featured two huge climbs known as “hors categorie” (beyond category).

The first came early in the stage, up Col de Vars, and the second just after halfway through: to Cime de la Bonette, France’s highest road at an altitude of 2,802 meters.

Despite having two riders at the front, Vingegaard did not attack Pogacar.

After a long descent, there was another hard grind to Isola 2000. Vingegaard could not catch Pogacar and, instead, found himself under pressure from Evenepoel, who just beat him in a sprint to the line.

It was a day to forget for Vingegaard, and another one to savor for Pogacar.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, bows when crossing the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, bows when crossing the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, flashes four finger for his fourth stage win during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, flashes four finger for his fourth stage win during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, turns back to see if he has enough lead as he approaches the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, turns back to see if he has enough lead as he approaches the finish line of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, follows Britain's Geraint Thomas, second right, and Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, right, as they ride in the pack with Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, follows Britain's Geraint Thomas, second right, and Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, right, as they ride in the pack with Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides with Spain's Mikel Landa, right, as they climb Cime de la Bonette pass, the highest road in Europe with an altitude of 2802 meters, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides with Spain's Mikel Landa, right, as they climb Cime de la Bonette pass, the highest road in Europe with an altitude of 2802 meters, during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 144.6 kilometers (89.9 miles) with start in Embrun and finish in Isola 2000, France, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah captain Clayton Keller went to the locker room a minute into the second period against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night after a puck struck him the face.

A shot from teammate Michael Kesselring got deflected high and the puck struck Keller. He immediately ripped off his helmet, skated off the ice, and headed straight to the locker room.

Keller eventually returned to the ice with 4:40 left in the second with swelling and a cut above his eye. He assisted on Utah's first goal of the game 40 seconds later and added an empty-netter late in the 5-2 win over the Jets.

“I got lucky,” said Keller, who sported a dozen stitches and a bruised eyelid following the game. “It didn’t catch my eye. It was so fast, you don’t feel much. But I tried to look through my eye and I knew I could, so I wasn’t really too worried after that.”

His quick return and toughness shifted momentum in Utah’s favor and led to a second straight home victory to cap a seven-game homestand.

“Coming back without hesitation, without a doubt in his head -- that was great,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said.

Keller has 10 goals and 20 assists over his last 22 games. He had a goal and three assists in Utah’s 4-2 win over St. Louis on Saturday, matching his NHL career high with four points. Keller leads the expansion club in points (50) and assists (34) this season.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) moves the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) moves the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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