Jonas Vingegaard fends off Tadej Pogacar's attacks on the yellow jersey in Alpe d'Huez. With an outstanding team behind him, the Dane has the best chance of overthrowing the dominator. But of course the Slovenian doesn't give up and could benefit from his experience.
Jonas Vingegaard had a lively chat with noble helper Wout van Aert, two meters away Tadej Pogacar felt no need to speak. The challenger in yellow and the defending champion, who he was holding at bay, had nothing more to say to each other on the day after the spectacular arrival in Alpe d'Huez. Vingegaard's sporting statement at the climbing showdowns in the Alps was spot on. No reason for the slight Dane to take off. "I have to thank all my teammates - they did an incredible job. The team I have is probably the best here on the tour," enthused the 25-year-old: "We have that today and yesterday and also in the first week."
In the first few days, the "killer wasps", as the team from the Netherlands is called because of their yellow and black jersey, made a name for themselves in a different, negative way. For example, Germany's cycling star Maximilian Schachmann grumbles about the aggressive driving style of the superstar team, which caused several falls themselves or helped to cause them. "Jumbo has to pull himself together a bit. Because they all drive like crazy for the last centimeter, but they can't and then hang themselves on the side of the road." This is a hazard for all drivers. "And that is unnecessary." But after the first turbulent days, the "killer wasps" came to their senses and have dominated the field ever since.
The ideas of Jumbo-Visma and also of Vingegaard are impressive. On the first day in yellow, his extremely strong assistants around all-rounder van Aert carried him up the majority of the 21 most famous hairpin bends in cycling in Alpe d'Huez - rival Pogacar was almost on his own at the same time. And when Pogacar went one-on-one in the final, Vingegaard was there in the style of a great champion. Previously, Vingegaard had benefited from a major slump by Pogacar at the mountain finish at the Col du Granon on Wednesday, taking 2:51 minutes from the Slovenian and thereby snatching the maillot jaune with a bang. Before the heat battle at the weekend in the Massif Central, in which the duel for yellow should cool down a bit for a short time, last year's second place has a solid 2:22 minute buffer in the overall classification.
Vingegaard had already indicated last year that he was to be expected. Not only because of his completely surprising place on the podium. On the ascent to the mythical Mont Ventoux, the Dane had temporarily left behind Pogacar, who was then in a league of his own, taking 38 seconds off him on the summit. Lost this again on the descent. This year he started as a double at the start with Primoz Roglic, but after the Slovenian fell in the first week and was weak, the team put their faith in the Dane, who had worked part-time in a fish factory until 2018. In the village of Hanstholm, known for the Olsen Gang.
Vingegaard got the toughness in the mountains and in the fight against the clock in long journeys in his home on the North Sea. The surfer's paradise of Klitmöller, the cold Hawaii, is not far here. There is a good breeze practically around the clock and from all directions. It was evident early on that Vingegaard is a tremendous talent that can shine especially in the mountains. At the age of 19 he started his career with the third-class Coloquick team, the talent factory of Danish cycling. "I just like the mountains. I can show myself there," said Vingegaard back then.
Less than three years later, in 2019, he signed with Jumbo-Visma and won his first professional race in Poland. And as a result was already involved in unsightly and suspicious speculation. His team relies on a preparation that is supposed to accelerate fat burning. ketones. That's not forbidden. However, anti-doping agencies are skeptical about taking it. As well as experts on the services of Vingegaard. In his sprint to the top of Mont Ventoux last year, he drove the last six very difficult kilometers considerably faster than any other racer before him. So also as the representatives of the high doping era, as the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" wrote at the time.
"He is perhaps the best climber in the field," said Pogacar just a few days ago about his biggest rival. Respect for Vingegaard is great. Already in the first week of the tour, the Dane had defied the defending champion again and again. "My legs are very good, I'm in top form," said Vingegaard after the first tough stages. While other favorites like Primoz Roglic or Geraint Thomas were already falling behind, the 25-year-old mostly got stuck on Pogacar's rear wheel - and impressively past it in the Alps.
But Vingegaard will not and must not lean back. Even if, after the strong performances in the Alps, there is a lot to be said for a new champion on the Champs-Elysees. After the "relaxation" on the less demanding sections, next week's showdowns in the Pyrenees will be hot. Because Pogacar, who is aiming for his third tour victory in a row, is far from defeated: "I felt a lot better again. It gives me a boost and a lot of self-confidence," said the 23-year-old. Jonas Vingegaard and his strong team will be on guard.
