Tadej Pogacar wins Criterium du Dauphine to make more history and hails 'really amazing week' ahead of Tour de France title defence
Published 15/06/2025 at 17:44 GMT+1
Tadej Pogacar saw off his great rival Jonas Vingegaard to win the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday. Pogacar hailed an "amazing week" as he became the first world champion to win the Dauphine since the legendary Bernard Hinault in 1981. It is also the ideal preparation for the Tour de France - which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - which starts on July 5.
‘A lot of positives’ – Pogacar reflects on ‘amazing week’ after first Dauphine title
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) hailed an "amazing week" as he brilliantly sealed victory at the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday.
Pogacar finished ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) for another big race success in his storied career.
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) won the final stage at Plateau du Mont-Cenis, ahead of Vingegaard and Pogacar.
Pogacar became the first world champion to win the Dauphine since the legendary Bernard Hinault in 1981.
It was the perfect preparation for his defence of the Tour de France - a race that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - beginning on July 5.
"It's been a really amazing week, and once again, a great job by the team to defend the jersey," Pogacar said.
"We can go home happy and to prepare for the Tour. A lot of positives and all the negatives we turned into positives.
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'It has been a great, great year for me' - Pogacar on his form so far this season
Video credit: TNT Sports
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"Now we go to altitude camp at Isola 2000, then home, then the Tour. There's not much to do, just rest after this great week, some extra work on the time trial maybe, and then I'm ready.
"After being away [from the race] since 2020, I'm super happy and proud."
Pogacar won back-to-back Tour de France titles in 2020 and 2021, but then had to watch his great rival Vingegaard celebrate glory in Paris in 2022 and 2023.
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Watch finish as Martinez wins final stage and Pogacar cruises to overall title
Video credit: TNT Sports
The redoubtable Pogacar was top of the pile again last year, and the 26-year-old Slovenian will be aiming for a fourth success in the iconic race next month.
Vingegaard, who finished 59 seconds adrift of top spot, was asked if he would be concerned about a dip in form for the Tour de France following a season as successful as Pogacar has enjoyed.
"No, I think Tadej will be very good in the Tour," Vingegaard said.
"I expect him to be at his best level there. I don’t think he will get any worse."
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