Pogacar set for Tour title as Groves wins penultimate stage

Tadej Pogacar is set to secure his fourth Tour de France title after maintaining his overall lead, as Kaden Groves won the penultimate stage of this year's race.

Australian sprinter Groves, 26, claimed his first Tour stage win after launching a solo attack with 16km remaining.

Pogacar completed the 184.2km hilly stage safely in the peloton meaning that, barring an accident, the 26-year-old Slovenian will seal his title defence on Sunday.

The final day of the Tour is a processional stage, where traditionally the general classification leader is not challenged.

Groves' victory on Saturday means he has completed the trilogy of claiming stage wins on each of the three Grand Tour races.

Alpecin-Deceuninck handed the 26-year-old his Tour debut this year and he has become the third rider from the Belgian team to win a stage on the 112th edition of cycling's biggest race.

Alpecin's star riders Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel triumphed on the first two stages, before later being forced to abandon the Tour through injury and illness respectively.

"There are so many emptions to win here," said Groves. "The team, we came here with so many different plans with Jasper and Mathieu.

"In the end, I get my own opportunities and they haven't gone the right way. But today I had super legs. I just suffered to the line and as a reward we get a Tour stage."