2023-07-10 21:51:00
Everything is fine in the Jumbo-Visma ship. This is the message sent by Jonas Vingegaard during the first day of rest of this Tour de France 2023. Yellow jersey since Thursday and the Cauterets-Cambasque stage, the Dane took power when he had been put in difficulty by his rival Tadej Pogacar on the Pyrenean roads. The Slovenian did it again on Sunday in the final of the ascent of the Puy de Dôme, with a less significant time saving at stake.
Even jostled, Vingegaard was not alarmed by the situation, namely that his 57-second lead over Tadej Pogacar melted like snow in the sun, dropping to 17 seconds before attacking the second week of racing. Since Sunday, the boss of the Tour has been repeating the same speech: he had planned to suffer in the first week and the best is yet to come according to him. He hit the nail on the head on Monday.
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“We are happy with the way things have gone so far. We thought we would be behind in the standings and that we should make up time from now on. But that’s not the scenario at the moment” , “Vingo” told the press. “We are satisfied to be in front. And yes I lost 8 seconds yesterday (Sunday), but I don’t think 8 seconds will make the difference. Being in front, even if 17 seconds is not a lot, it’s is better than being behind 30 seconds behind.”
How Pogacar took over 8″ from Vingegaard: their duel in the final
I don’t think I’m falling
Is Vingegaard bluffing on his physical condition, he who lost time twice in three outings in the mountains? “No I don’t think I’m going down,” he tried to reassure. You can see from the numbers that he (Pogacar) escaped only once. Afterwards, he also evolves at a very very high level. We just have to believe in our strengths and that we can take time off him.”
According to Vingegaard, there is currently no favorite for the final victory two weeks from the end. It’s 50/50. “I think that at the moment it can go one way or the other. Obviously, I want to give my best to keep the yellow jersey until Paris. It’s a good duel, it’s been pretty intense so far. One day I distanced myself from him and the next day it’s him. I’m sure it will be exciting until Paris. Yes, we have a plan for him take time. I’m not going to reveal it to you, you’ll have to see it in action.”
A lightning attack: Pogacar deposed Vingegaard
The more we advance in the Tour, the more the others will be tired and the better it will be for me
The outgoing winner of the Tour de France continued his masterful course on a course more favorable to his qualities, arguing that in the past he had revved up in this way. It is true that the scenario of the Tour 2022 proves him right on this level. He took power during the 11th stage at Granon, sticking 3’02 “to a failing Pogacar.
The great turning point of the Granon: Vingegaard on board, Pogacar adrift
The leader of the Jumbo also highlighted his perfect physical condition. Arrived in good shape for the big start in the Basque Country, after a masterfully dominated Critérium du Dauphiné, he is supposed to rev up for the bulk of the Tour, in the Alps where three stages will await the peloton from Friday to Sunday. In total, eleven climbs, including two out of category (the Grand Colombier on Friday and Joux-Plane on Saturday), will be on the menu. There will also be two summit finishes, Friday and Sunday at Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (1st category).
“Some stages to come will have more than one climb (Saturday and Sunday, editor’s note). The days will be made up of climbs and descents and not just a single climb to do. The only day that was tiring was the 5th step, that of Marie-Blanque. These are the types of profiles that suit me best. And over the next few weeks, there will be days that will suit me even better. That’s why I’m looking forward to the next few weeks of racing. (…) The more we advance in the Tour, the more the others will be tired and the better it will be for me.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) did not want to play for victory at the top of the Puy de Dôme, during the 9th stage of the Tour de France 2023.
Credit: Getty Images
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