Tadej Pogacar powered into the Yellow Jersey, stayed on course for a Tour de France hat-trick and said: “Every time I win it feels even better.”
The defending champion devoured the 137 miles on stage six, from Binche in Belgium to Longwy, like a shark patrolling the beach for its lunch to take over the maillot jaune. And the Slovenian reeled in previous leader Wout Van Aert's breakaway at such a ferocious pace that the riders covered the course half an hour sooner than expected at an average speed of 30.4mph.
Belgian hero Van Aert led the breakaway on home roads and tried to take on the peloton alone for the last 20 miles. But he was reeled in with seven miles left and Pogacar, 23, took over following a late attack from fellow Slovenian up the short final climb.
