Tour de France: Jonas Vingegaard taking confidence from Mont Ventoux that Tadej Pogačar can be beaten in future years
Jumbo-Visma look set to finish second in the Tour to Pogačar for the second year in a row

Jonas Vingegaard’s performances in the last two weeks of the Tour de France have encouraged him to believe that Tadej Pogačar isn’t as superior as the results look.
The race’s forays into the mountains are now behind the peloton, and with just stage 20’s 30km time trial left to reorder the final order in the general classification, Pogačar is on course to win his second consecutive yellow jersey.
His dominance in the first week set him up for a successful defence of his title and thwarted any hope of an exciting battle for the race lead.
Pogačar further cemented his probable victory with wins on stages 17 and 18, but Vingeggard has been able to keep pace with him in the Pyrenees and looks set to finish second.
The Dane even dropped Pogačar on stage 11’s double ascent of Mont Ventoux, and asked by Cycling Weekly whether he feels his gap of 5-45 is representative of the actual difference between the duo, the Jumbo-Visma rider said it wasn’t based on the past fortnight.
“In the second and third week I have been up there with him every time,” the 24-year-old, riding his first Tour, said.
“He was the best in the first week, and that’s when he took five-and-a-half-minutes out of me, but it’s only from then that he has the five-minute lead.
“I think on the Mont Ventoux stage I gained a lot of confidence when I dropped him. That day I got the confidence that basically nobody can drop me anymore.
“But he is super strong and he deserved to win yesterday and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Eddy Merckx, winner of five Tours, indicated at the start of stage 19 that Pogačar could eclipse his number of Tour victories.
At only 22, the UAE Team Emirates rider looks imperious against all other GC riders, and while Vingeggard doesn’t subscribe to the view that no rider can overcome him, he confessed that his rival deserves his second Tour title.
“I don’t know about that,” he said in response to being asked if Pogačar was unbeatable. “I dropped him one time.
“But then on the other days he has been the strongest one so on those days he wasn’t beatable, at least for me.”
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Chris first started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2013 on work experience and has since become a regular name in the magazine and on the website. Reporting from races, long interviews with riders from the peloton and riding features drive his love of writing about all things two wheels.
Probably a bit too obsessed with mountains, he was previously found playing and guiding in the Canadian Rockies, and now mostly lives in the Val d’Aran in the Spanish Pyrenees where he’s a ski instructor in the winter and cycling guide in the summer. He almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.
-
-
Which of these six tubeless sealants passed our screwdriver test?
We put six popular brands to the test with the higher pressures of road tyres
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Is social media ruining your relationship with cycling?
Cutting back has been shown to have mental health benefits, but what’s the right balance to strike?
By Anna Marie Hughes • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'Of course I want to try to win the Tour de France'
After signing new contract with Ineos Grenadiers, British rider says he can lead wave of young riders at team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel aims to ride Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this year
Dutchman is continuing his comeback from injury at Coppi e Bartali this week
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Geraint Thomas 'will be very happy going to the Tour de France as a support rider', says Ineos Grenadiers' Rod Ellingworth
Ellingworth also backs the team to start winning big once Lady Luck falls their way
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Richie Porte won't ride Tour de France because he 'didn't enjoy pressure' of 2021 edition
The Australian will instead ride the Giro d'Italia as he seeks enjoyment in his final year of racing
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Jack Haig is working on his time trial as he aims for Tour de France overall after Vuelta podium
There will be 53km worth of time trialing at the 2022 French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'I don’t want to end my time with the regret of not ever trying': Julian Alaphilippe wants to try and win Tour de France before retiring
The double world champion will focus on the Classics in 2022 but still has an eye on the French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Egan Bernal aiming at Tour de France victory in 2022
The former winner abandoned last time he raced the Grande Boucle in 2020
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published