Pogacar nears fifth Tour title as Carapaz wins penultimate stage

Pogacar keeps the race under control

Tadej Pogacar moved close to a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title after safely finishing Saturday’s penultimate stage, a result that matters less for the stage sheet than for what it preserves. With Sunday’s showcase finish in Paris still to come, the Slovenian carries the race lead into the final day.

That is the key point: at this point of a Tour, control is the result. Pogacar did not need to turn the penultimate stage into a statement. He needed to avoid the sort of disruption that can still change a race late, and by finishing safely he kept the overall picture intact.

Carapaz took the stage win, giving the day its headline result, but the larger consequence sits with Pogacar. A fifth Tour title would put him level with the record, which is why a quiet, managed finish on the eve of Paris is still one of the most consequential outcomes of the race.

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