Nevertheless, the runner-up in the overall standings drew a positive tour balance after the time trial. “We can take a lot from this tour. We made mistakes, but also good things. We know where we have to start next year and where we can improve,” the 23-year-old told journalists at the press conference at the stage finish in Rocamadour. As in previous years, he was able to win three stages and did not go away empty-handed as the winner of the youngsters’ classification. But the Slovenian, used to success, will not let the defeat sit on him.
“There were small mistakes, sometimes by me, sometimes by the team. There was nothing tragic about it, but we have to get better and we can do that too,” he began with a quick analysis of this year’s Tour of France. The 11th stage in particular was probably the key moment of the 2022 event. On the final climb, up to the Col du Granon, Vingegaard left Pogacar behind, took 2:51 minutes off him and added ten seconds to the time bonus.
“One mistake there was that I was too motivated and attacked too much,” said the Slovenian, who conceded most of the deficit there that he now has on the Dane. “But there were other things that we look at in detail after the Tour. Of course we were also unlucky with Covid before and during the Tour. In the end there were only four of us, these are factors that change our race have”, he also looked at his severely decimated team. Vergard Stake Laengen and George Bennett dropped out early with Corona, Rafal Majka injured his knee and Marc Soler missed the time limit on a black day for the Spaniard in the Pyrenees.
Tour de France
Vingegaard feared déjà vu: “Stuck in our heads”
BEFORE AN HOUR
Even before the start, the Slovenian lost his road captain, Matteo Trentin. The experienced Italian had tested positive for Corona before the Grand Départ in Copenhagen, his substitute Marc Hirschi could not fill the role, fought more for his own survival during the tour than being an important helper.
Kisses and tears: Vingegaard celebrates with family wearing yellow jersey
Jumbo drove a perfect tour for Pogacar
“You want different winners, so it doesn’t matter to take a different position,” said Pogacar humbled, but still drew a satisfied conclusion: “It was a good tour for me, I just found a stronger opponent. That’s there me motivation for the next year.”
Not only did he lose to the strongest rider, but arguably one of the strongest teams the Tour has ever seen. Six of the 20 stage victories so far went to Jumbo – Visma, who, with Wout Van Aert and Vingegaard, were also able to take several second places on the day and possibly could have won even more. “They hardly showed any weaknesses. They rode a perfect tour,” he admitted without envy.
He then also found words of praise for the new tour winner from Denmark, whom he highlighted at the beginning of the tour as the world’s best climber and who also underlined this with his impressive stage victories on the Col du Granon and in Hautacam: “Jonas was a tough nut to crack I couldn’t crack it. But I’m already looking forward to the next races where I want to be better. This tour makes me hungrier, I want to win more and I like the challenge.”
Highlights: Van Aert and Vingegaard refine dream tour for Jumbo
Tour de France
Highlights: Van Aert unbeatable – Vingegaard also top in the time trial
BEFORE AN HOUR
Tour de France
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BEFORE AN HOUR