Accidental? Tadej Pogacar explains why he intentionally took KOM Points for the polka dot jersey

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader was, of course, fighting for the stage win in the finale and collected a total of three mountain points along the way. Over the Côte du Haut Pichot, Tim Wellens was first to the top, with Pogacar taking second for one point. Then, on the Côte de Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, Pogacar took the full two points. That left him with one point more than Benjamin Thomas, who had been wearing the polka dot jersey for Cofidis after stage 1.

For Pogacar, the mountains classification isn’t a main goal, but after the stage he showed he had clearly thought about it in the mixed zone. “I’ve won the polka dot jersey twice in my career, but I’ve only worn it once in six editions of the Tour de France. Monday will be my second day ever wearing it, and I’m looking forward to that. People love the polka dot jersey, and it’s a special feeling to have it.”

Pogacar was referring to his wins in the mountains classification in 2020 and 2021, both years when he also took grabbed the yellow jersey, meaning he only wore the polka dots for one day. In the 2022 and 2023 Tours won by Jonas Vingegaard, he never rode a day in the polka-dot jersey and neither did he last year, when Pogacar wore the yellow jersey for almost the entire Tour de France as general classification leader. The mountains classification did not go to him then either, but to Richard Carapaz.

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With a second place finish, six bonus seconds, second overall in the GC (two seconds ahead of Vingegaard), and the polka dot jersey, Pogacar had plenty to be satisfied about. “It was really an amazing stage, it had everything: rain, stress, chaos, danger, and short climbs like in a classic. I felt good in the finale and as a team we rode really well. Mathieu was just stronger – chapeau to him. I’m happy with second place.”

Speaking to NOS about his sprint against Van der Poel, Pogacar was clear. “It’s difficult to beat Mathieu in a sprint. I messed it up a bit because I was probably a bit intimidated to sprint against him. That made me hesitate just a little too long, and he was faster.”