Pogačar Claims 100th Victory in Thrilling Tour de France Stage

Defending champion Tadej Pogačar celebrated his 100th professional victory in a thrilling sprint finish, besting Mathieu Van der Poel to win the challenging fourth stage of the Tour de France. The stage, characterized by its hilly terrain, saw Pogačar demonstrate his exceptional skill and determination, surging past Van der Poel in the final meters.

Van der Poel, known for his sprinting prowess, had appeared poised to secure his second stage win of the race. He launched an attack with approximately 200 meters remaining, taking the lead. However, Pogačar, displaying remarkable power, found an extra gear and overtook him at the line, celebrating the milestone victory with a display of emotion.

The 26-year-old Slovenian star, wearing a special cap commemorating his 100th win, has amassed an impressive list of achievements throughout his career. This includes 18 stage wins at the Tour de France, a world road race title, numerous one-day classics, and stage victories in prestigious races such as the Giro d'Italia, Paris-Nice, and Critérium du Dauphiné.

Pogačar described the stage finale as "amazing" and "explosive," expressing his happiness at achieving his career milestone while wearing the world champion's jersey.

After four stages, Pogačar and Van der Poel are tied on overall time. Van der Poel retained the yellow jersey due to his superior finishing positions in the earlier stages.

Canadian cyclist Michael Woods finished the stage in 94th place, while his Israel-Premier Tech teammate, Guillaume Boivin, placed 164th. In the overall standings, Woods is 113th, and Boivin is 158th.

The 174-kilometer stage, which began in Amiens and concluded in Rouen, was designed to favor all-around cyclists. The route included several small climbs, adding to the day's challenge.

A notable incident occurred during the stage when Jasper Philipsen, the Stage 1 winner, was forced to withdraw from the race due to a broken collarbone sustained in a crash. French rider Bryan Coquard received a yellow card for causing the fall, a decision that sparked controversy.

Stage 5 will be a 33-kilometer time trial around Caen, which is expected to significantly impact the overall standings. The race, held entirely within France this year, will conclude in Paris on July 27.