In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Tadej Pogacar powered his way to victory in the mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday. The two-time champion showcased his climbing prowess on the final ascent, leaving two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard behind in his quest for the yellow jersey.

Pogacar, riding for UAE Emirates, showed his love for instinctual racing as he made his move with just 3 miles remaining in the stage. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I love it that way," Pogacar said after the race. He quickly caught up with and overtook his teammate Adam Yates, while Vingegaard fought hard to limit the time gap.

The Slovenian rider crossed the finish line over four hours after the start, completing the 199-mile trek with an impressive lead of 39 seconds over Vingegaard. Remco Evenepoel of Belgium claimed the third spot but dropped to third overall in the general classification.

Pogacar's victory not only solidified his position at the top but also earned him an extended overall lead of nearly two minutes. "Let's keep this positive energy so we can win more," Pogacar said, expressing his motivation for future stages. Despite his dominance, he remained focused, acknowledging that there is still a long way to go in the race.

The stage featured two grueling "hors catégorie" climbs, with the famed Col du Tourmalet and the Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet testing the riders' endurance. A breakaway of 10 riders initially formed, but under the impressive tempo set by Pogacar's team, led by Nils Politt, the group quickly dwindled to five riders, including Yates.

It was Yates who set up Pogacar for the victory, overtaking Ben Healy, the initial attacker. The unexpected attack caught Vingegaard off guard, but the Danish rider exhibited composure and managed to limit the damage, trailing Pogacar by just one minute in the overall standings.

Meanwhile, Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay triumphantly held onto the green jersey as the best sprinter of the race. Ineos Grenadiers' Tom Pidcock was unable to take part in the stage due to COVID-19 symptoms, while 2018 winner Geraint Thomas, also affected by the virus, struggled to keep up with the yellow jersey group.

As the Tour de France reaches its midpoint, Sunday's 15th stage falls on Bastille Day, France's national day, and promises four challenging climbs before a grueling finish on Plateau de Beille. The race will then take a rest day on Monday before resuming towards its grand finale in Nice.

For now, Tadej Pogacar remains the undeniable force to reckon with, displaying his strength and determination as he aims for a third Tour de France title.