The young Slovenian usurped his compatriot Primoz Roglic in a stunning last gasp effort in the Stage 20 time trial. 

Almost nobody expected it — except Ernesto Colnago.

Tadej Pogačar went into the Stage 20 time trial in a highly-impressive second place, 57 seconds in arrears of Primoz Roglic, who until that point had ridden an almost flawless Tour de France. 

Few expected the 21-year-old Slovenian — riding his debut Tour, no less — to overhaul his elder compatriot in the time trial, but that’s exactly what he did, taking an astonishing 1:56 out of Roglic over the 36.2km parcours, which finished at the top of the savage La Planche Des Belles Filles.  

Despite many doubting him on the eve of the time trial, Ernesto Colnago saw something more in Pogačar: the soul of a champion. Almost a week earlier, Colnago had felt butterflies in his stomach, and the sense that Pogačar would take the yellow jersey into Paris — so he made sure that the young debutant would have the bike he deserved. 

Pogačar’s win is also a piece of history for Colnago, marking the first time that a Colnago-branded bike has carried a rider to victory in the GC at the Tour de France. He achieved his incredible feat for most of the Tour riding a Colnago V3RS equipped with Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 Speed and Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 aero wheels, wearing a Met Trenta helmet, all of which we stock right here at Bikebug. 

Scroll down for more images from an unprecedented two days at the Tour de France — and congratulations to Tadej Pogačar, UAE Team Emirates, Colnago, Campagnolo and all those who contributed to what was truly a race for the ages.