Pogacar survives crash to keep TdF defense alive

TOULOUSE, France -- Norwegian rider Jonas Abrahamsen attacked from the commencement and won the 11th signifier of the Tour de France portion contention favourite Tadej Pogačar crashed adjacent the decorativeness Wednesday.

Pogačar, the three-time champion, crashed with astir 2.5 miles remaining. His rivals for the wide classification slowed down truthful helium could get backmost connected his motorcycle and rejoin them. He was capable to reattach his chain, and his motorcycle was different undamaged.

Abrahamsen bushed Swiss rider Mauro Schmid successful a photograph decorativeness successful a last sprint aft Belgian-born Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel made a precocious propulsion to drawback them. It was the Norwegian rider's archetypal signifier triumph astatine the Tour and the archetypal successful this contention for his team, Uno-X Mobility.

Van der Poel was 7 seconds down successful third, portion the wide classification radical including Pogačar and yellowish jersey-holder Ben Healy finished 3:28 back.

Healy, lone the 4th Irish rider ever to clasp the yellowish jersey, leads by 29 seconds implicit Pogačar.

After the archetypal remainder time connected Tuesday, Wednesday's signifier was a 97.4-mile loop from Toulouse backmost to the confederate "Pink City" with views of the Pyrenees. It was expected to suit the sprinters, though determination was a sting adjacent the extremity with a 20% incline connected the Côte de Pech David earlier the finish.

Abrahamsen attacked astir from the commencement and was joined by Schmid and Davide Ballerini, prompting persistent attacks from the likes of Van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Victor Campenaerts. Ultimately each their efforts were successful vain.

"It's a brainsick stage, guys," the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale squad riders were told implicit their radios, "A brainsick stage. Stay focused."