We’re already coming up to the halfway stage of this year’s later-than-billed Tour de France.
With the first mountains stage already complete, the race to win every classification hots up. Last year’s winner of the white jersey, Egan Bernal, holds a slender 23-second advantage over his rival Tadej Pogačar in the Young Rider Classification, and the 21-year-old recently won Stage 9.
However, it’s the race for the yellow jersey that fans and cyclists alike, anticipate. If you’re betting on Tour the France, Primož Roglič is the current favourite, and the Slovenian attained the overall lead after Stage 9. As the gruelling race reaches its climax, let’s take a look at who’s in the running to win the yellow jersey.
Primož Roglič
The 30-year-old is the top-ranked male road rider in the UCI standings and Roglič has been in good form since cycling restarted after its coronavirus-enforced hiatus. In addition to winning the Tour de l’Ain earlier this year, the Jumbo-Visma rider was also last year’s Vuelta a España victor. Another Grand Tour win could be on the horizon, as the Slovenian gained the yellow jersey from Adam Yates after winning stage 9. His margin of victory currently stands at 21 seconds, and of course, there’s still a long way to go.
Egan Bernal
Colombian Bernal was last year’s yellow jersey winner and will look to not only retain his title, but ensure that Team Ineos continue their dominance of the Tour. The British racing team have won eight of the last nine editions of the race. Bernal was a double winner last year, winning both the yellow and white jerseys. He recently clawed back some time on the final day of the mountain stage through the Pyrenees and while he’s 21 seconds behind in the General Classification, he’s 23 seconds ahead in the Young Rider Classification, holding a slender lead over the next man on our list.
Tadej Pogačar
Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates crossed the finish line of stage 9 with victory, and while he’s seventh in the General Classification standings, he’s just over a minute behind the race leader. It was the Slovenian’s first Tour stage win, and he’ll be expecting for more on the horizon. The Slovenian made his breakthrough on the big stage last year at the Vuelta a España, where he finished third overall, and there’s no doubt he will be anticipating a battle against his older compatriot, Roglič during the remaining stages of this year’s Tour de France.
Adam Yates
He was the best young rider four years ago, but Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) will be looking to go one better this time around. He won the UAE Tour back in February and last year missed out on Champion status in both the Volta a Catalunya and Tirreno–Adriatico. So far in this year’s Tour de France, Yates has been the best of the British interest – reduced somewhat through Team Ineos’ omissions. The winner of stage 5, held on to his yellow jersey until stage 9, but sits in eighth in the General Classification. Yates will be joining Ineos Grenadiers next season.