The Dane, who started the Tour with many questions, beat Tadej Pogacar to the post on Wednesday and continues to trouble the Slovenian.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 07/10/2024 19:30
Reading time: 3 min Jonas Vingegaard on the podium of the 11th stage of the Tour de France, July 10, 2024. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)
Renaissance. That’s what’s stamped on the Visma-Lease a bike bus during this Tour de France. A reference to the historical period, since the Tour started in Florence. But the term might also be appropriate for the team leader, Jonas Vingegaard.
Bedridden for three months following his terrible fall on the Tour of the Basque Country, the Dane continues to gain momentum. On Wednesday, he resisted, caught up with and even overtook his biggest rival, Tadej Pogacar.
Three months of rehabilitation in secret in order to be in Florence in time to defend his crown. A leap into the unknown for him, but also for his opponents. “On arrival, II was really moved, I still am. It’s only been three months. At the time, I wondered if I was going to die, so to be here today is really something special.”explained the double defending champion, who won his fourth stage victory on the Grande Boucle.
Stage 11 – Jonas Vingegaard: “I wondered if I was going to die” Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) looked back on his victory in the 11th stage of the 2024 Tour de France. The Dane notably mentioned his fall three months ago, which almost deprived him of the Grand Boucle this season.
Yes, Jonas Vingegaard has been unhooked twice by Tadej Pogacar since the start in Italy. But, extremely calm as usual, he did not panic. In the Galibier during the 4th stage, the Dane had only eight seconds to spare at the summit, but had to give up more on the descent.
On Wednesday, he didn’t lose anything. Better still, he even made up for lost time, while Tadej Pogacar reached a plateau on the final climb, that of the Col du Pertus. “Jonas was very strong in the second part. There was a moment on the descent where I got a bit scared, I was very focused on my turns”rewinds Tadej Pogacar, who has a 1’14” lead over his rival in the general classification.
Stage 11: Jonas Vingegaard catches up with Tadej Pogacar At the end of a perfectly managed climb of the Col de Pertus, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) managed to stick to the wheel of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), who started alone. The two favourites for the overall victory will battle it out on today’s stage.
Three days following the episode of the white paths around Troyes, where Jonas Vingegaard had refused to collaborate with Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel to distance Primoz Roglic, this 11th stage continues to give indications: the Dane is not here to have fun and he plans to get more and more into the Slovenian’s head to sow the seed of doubt.
Always a good sport, the yellow jersey probably had his ideas a little confused at the finish, he who had a lead of around thirty seconds before finally being beaten in the sprint, an area in which he excels.
“It’s beautiful to see. No one can doubt Jonas’ form now, he’s in the form of his life.”
Tadej Pogacar
to France Televisions
As the Pyrenees loom, where “The great battle for the general is regarding to begin”according to Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are in a paradoxical situation: the Slovenian is unstoppable, manages to drop everyone and has 1’14” on his rival, but it is the Dane who seems to be winning the mental fight at the halfway point.
Tadej Pogacar is probably not able to assess the true level of his opponent. He is trying to pull out all the stops to get ahead, because he fears that Jonas Vingegaard will come and crush his hopes in the second part of the Tour. “Usually, in the second and third weeks, it’s my peak form”recalled the Dane on Wednesday, while the yellow jersey might pay for the efforts made to win the Giro d’Italia.
Vingegaard, who had wrung out Tadej Pogacar at the Col du Granon (11th stage in 2022) and then knocked out the clock at Combloux (16th stage in 2023), has he been plotting his plan from the start, or is he finding his true level a little more each day? Behind his smile in all circumstances, Tadej Pogacar is wary: Jonas Vingegaard is probably biding his time to deliver the final blow.
