The defending champion proved he was a class above the rest with a dominant 12km solo win on the Hautacam climb

Tadej Pogacar pointed to the sky when he crossed the finish line and he finished his post-stage interview by dedicating his victory to 19-year-old Italian rider Samuele Privitera, who has died following an accident during the first stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, an Under-23 event.

Tadej Pogacar said he was in the form of his life after climbing to a commanding Tour de France stage win on the Hautacam mountain in the Pyrenees on Thursday.