Tadej Pogacar continued his impressive form at the Criterium du Dauphine by claiming victory in the third stage, further solidifying his position as the race leader. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider finished 14 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, on the challenging 132km route from Grand-Aigueblanche to Valmeinier.

Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion, broke away 12km from the finish on the final ascent, showcasing his climbing prowess. "I launched it and maintained a good pace to the top," Pogacar said after securing his 98th career stage win. "Today Jonas was really strong. I did not want to go too deep myself. It was a super hot and long climb."

With this victory, Pogacar now leads the general classification by one minute and one second over Vingegaard. Florian Lipowitz finished third on the stage, 2 minutes and 21 seconds behind Pogacar, while Remco Evenepoel, fourth overall, lost more time and is now 4 minutes and 11 seconds back.

The Dauphine, a traditional warm-up for the Tour de France, concludes with another mountainous stage covering 133.3km from Val-d'Arc to the Plateau du Mont-Cenis. Pogacar’s performance has set the stage for an exciting finale, as he aims to secure his overall victory in this prestigious race.

Stage Seven Results

1. T Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4hrs 10mins 0secs
2. J Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +14secs
3. F Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +1min 21secs
4. T Halland Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +2mins 26secs
5. R Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +2mins 39secs

General Classification After Stage Seven

1. T Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 25hrs 44mins 58secs
2. J Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 1sec
3. F Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +2mins 21 secs
4. R Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +4mins 11secs
5. T Halland Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +5mins 55secs

Pogacar’s dominance in the Dauphine has not only extended his lead but also sent a strong message to his competitors ahead of the Tour de France, which begins on 5 July. His ability to perform under pressure and his strategic approach to the race have been key factors in his success.