The Dane outdistanced his Slovenian rival by more than a minute after attacking on the last climb of the day on Wednesday.
At the end of the Basque triptych, we thought Tadej Pogacar regenerated. Without a real race of preparation since his fall during Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Slovenian had started this 110th Tour de France foot to the floor, harassing his rival Jonas Vingegaard without ever managing to make him give in. But the first high mountain stage swept away everything, Wednesday July 5th. During an explosive day, the UAE-Emirates formation of Pogacar, which included the yellow jersey Adam Yates, tried to control everything, and was finally countered.
In the last ascent of the day, the Dane’s Jumbo-Visma formation pressed on the accelerator, isolating the Slovenian, before the last stage named Vingegaard took down Pogacar, who ultimately fell 1’04 ” behind the line , while the Dane only attacked 760 meters from the top of the Col de Marie-Blanque. Almost a chasm. “The goal was to have guys in the breakaway, in the end there were three. We thought it wasn’t the perfect stage for me, but I had great legs. I wanted to test him a bit, I felt good, I’m surprised he couldn’t follow me.” retraced Vingegaard on arrival, the big beneficiary of the day behind the new yellow jersey Jai Hindley.
53 seconds behind overall
Perfect day therefore for Jumbo-Visma, who relegates the double winner of the Tour to 53 seconds after only five stages? “A perfect day would have been if we had won the stage, but I think we can be very happy. Sepp Kuss and the whole team did a very good job putting pressure on the opponents, keeping pace At the end, Jonas tried to attack and he was able to let Pogacar go.”Satisfied its sporting director Grischa Niermann.
Vigilant since Saturday, Vingegaard was content to follow the Slovenian zebulon so far. After having gauged his rival, he hit very hard from the first explanation in the peaks on Wednesday. “Jonas has been very strong for a while, at Dauphiné he was very, very strong (winner). It’s a good sign, but we’ve only done five stages, there’s still a long way to go.” recalled his teammate Christophe Laporte.
For Pogacar, the blow is severe. Stuck on the slope, even then caught up by a group of favorites, “Pogi” was again unclamped by Vingegaard, and has so far never found the solution to let go. “I tried to hold on as much as possible on the climb, but he was too fast. There is nothing you can do in these cases, when there is someone who is stronger than you on a day like this. It’s a tough blow but it’s the first mountain stage. We will continue to fight every day, I hope the legs will turn better than Jonas last week.”attempted to positive Komenda’s pixie.
Pogacar has not let go of Vingegaard for two years on the Tour
Because what was feared happened: with the Pyrenees placed so early in the race, Tadej Pogacar, who lacked rhythm after his fall, exposed himself to being quickly caught out, without having time to gain strength. “We were hoping to have confirmation that Pogacar was in very good condition. This was the case for the first two stages, but today the high mountains spoke the truth. Vingegaard is in top form, Pogacar not yet”notes Mauro Gianetti, manager of UAE Team Emirates. “Yes training has been delayed this year, so I should feel better in the last week normally”aspired Pogacar, 6th overall on Wednesday evening.
He will have to quickly find his level in order to avoid, despite his apparent relaxation every day, feeding a psychological complex against the Dane. The deal is simple: to find the last time he took Vingegaard off his wheel in the mountains, you have to go back to the 9th stage of the Tour … 2021, in Tignes, i.e. two years and one day. He had taken 32 seconds from the Dane, inducted that day leader of the Jumbo-Visma after the abandonment of Primoz Roglic the day before. The first day of the rest of their lives, just like the first of their budding rivalry. Since that day, on the Tour de France, Pogacar tries but Vingegaard always has the last word.