logo
Vingegaard and team get a taste of their own medicine on the Tour

Vingegaard and team get a taste of their own medicine on the Tour

Japan Times18-07-2025
While Tadej Pogacar has been enjoying a dream Tour de France run this year, his main rival Jonas Vingegaard and his once almighty team are now closer to third than first place after just one high mountain stage on Thursday.
Vingegaard was left shattered by Pogacar's brutal attack in the climb up to Hautacam in the 12th stage, leaving the two-time champion 3:31 behind his rival in the overall standings.
"On the last climb Tadej was clearly the best and in the end Jonas also suffered a lot. Tomorrow is a new day, we will keep fighting," Vingegaard's Visma-Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann told reporters.
"He is the best of the rest."
In 2022, Visma-Lease a Bike riders pulled off a tactical coup in the Alps by trapping Pogacar, before Vingegaard effectively sealed his maiden Tour title in Hautacam by humiliating the Slovenian.
He added another title in 2023 by beating Pogacar by more than seven minutes, with the Slovenian having broken his wrist two and a half months before the Tour.
Pogacar emerged triumphant at last year's edition, when Vingegaard's preparation was hampered by a freak crash a few months before the Tour.
This year, however, the rivalry could reach new heights as both riders announced they were at their peak.
Suffer fest
Pogacar hammered Vingegaard in the first individual time trial and was merciless on Thursday as the Dane's teammates were a shadow of their dominant selves.
Key mountain lieutenants Matteo Jorgenson and Simon Yates were of no help as they struggled as early as the Col du Soulor and left Vingegaard fighting on his own at the bottom of Hautacam.
Memories of the humiliation three years ago must have been at the forefront of Pogacar's mind and everything clicked when he realised Visma-Lease a Bike was not as strong as he had expected.
The team's attempts at upping the pace failed and the world champion smelled blood.
"The biggest switch in my head happened when I saw what Visma tried. They followed their plan, but I noticed not everyone (in their team) was feeling great," he said.
"That was the moment I mentally switched — I thought, OK, today can actually be a really, really good day. Johnny (Jhonatan Narvaez) was still there, Marc Soler wasn't far behind — we even thought he might come back. Adam (Yates) was there, Tim (Wellens) was up front. All of that gave us the belief, the mental boost, that today could really go our way."
At the end of the day, Pogacar won a Tour stage by 2:10 — his biggest margin on a Tour win.
"Based on my feelings, I feel like it is the best moment of my career. I'm riding in a rainbow (world champion) jersey. I ride with an amazing team. Amazing teammates, so it's like a fairytale for me riding on the bike these couple of years now," he said.
"I just feel like until I enjoy this bike riding stuff and enjoy this suffer fest but with the fans on the side of the road, then I think I can still go on."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dominant Tadej Pogacar cruises to fourth Tour de France title
Dominant Tadej Pogacar cruises to fourth Tour de France title

Japan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Japan Times

Dominant Tadej Pogacar cruises to fourth Tour de France title

Tadej Pogacar completed a supreme performance to win the Tour de France in a rainy Paris on Sunday, crushing his rivals to collect a fourth title. Wout van Aert triumphed in the final-day cliffhanger around Montmartre, but Pogacar was spared any late challenge to his overall lead when the weather forced organizers to neutralize times to avoid accidents on the slippery cobbled roads. Pogacar, however, more than played his part in a thrilling finale before Belgian rider Van Aert pulled away on the last climb.

Pogačar wins Tour de France for fourth time
Pogačar wins Tour de France for fourth time

Japan Today

time7 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Pogačar wins Tour de France for fourth time

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, the Tour de France winner, smiles after finishing, the twenty-first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 132.3 kilometers (82.1 miles) with start in Mantes-la-Ville and finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (Yoan Valat, Pool Photo via AP) cycling By JEROME PUGMIRE Tadej Pogačar won his fourth Tour de France title by a comfortable margin after Sunday's final stage, which he tried to win even though he did not need to. The 26-year-old Slovenian rider won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of the risk of heavy rain and crashes, organizers had earlier decided to neutralize the times 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — but providing he crossed the finish line. Pogačar had no need to contest the stage win, especially given the danger of crashing on slick roads. Yet as the rain fell heavily, he showed his relentless thirst for victory and attacked anyway, setting a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Élysées. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. Lipowitz secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Critérium du Dauphiné, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. The Tour broke with tradition after the success of the Paris Olympics road race, which also took in Montmartre, famous for its Sacre Coeur basilica. It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour. Vingegaard was second in 2021, before beating Pogačar the next two years with the Slovenian second. When Pogačar reclaimed his title last year, Vingegaard was runner-up. Pogačar has also won the Giro d'Italia, doing so last year to become the first cyclist to secure the Giro and Tour double in the same season since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. But Pogačar has not yet won the Spanish Vuelta, whereas Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx won all three major races. When Pogačar won the hilly fourth stage of this year's race, it was the 100th professional victory of his stellar career, all events combined. Pogačar is also the world road race champion. He warmed up for this year's Tour with a dominant victory at the Critérium continuing his excellent form the spring classics, where he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège for third time. After winning stage 4 of the Tour, Pogačar added three more stage wins, including an emphatic uphill time trial. He would love to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and Milan San-Remo. The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) Roubaix race is called 'The Hell of the North' because of its dangerous cobblestone sections. Pogačar debut appearance at the one-day classic this year saw him seeking to become the first Tour champion to win it since Hinault in 1981. But powerful Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel won it for the third straight year. Pogačar has also yet to win Milan-San Remo, with Van der Poel also beat him there this year. Expect a fired-up Pogačar next year at Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. But it's unsure whether he'll tackle the Vuelta. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

One of the hardest Tours, Pogacar says, as he moves to brink of fourth win
One of the hardest Tours, Pogacar says, as he moves to brink of fourth win

Japan Times

timea day ago

  • Japan Times

One of the hardest Tours, Pogacar says, as he moves to brink of fourth win

Tadej Pogacar all but sealed his fourth Tour de France title on Saturday after surviving what he claims is one of the most brutal Tours he has ridden, leaving only Sunday's ride into Paris between him and another triumph in the world's greatest bicycle race. The defending champion leads Jonas Vingegaard by 4:24 in the general classification heading into Stage 21, which will feature a spectacular finale with three climbs of the Butte Montmartre in the French capital — a twist on the traditional Champs-Elysees parade. "Every year we say it's the hardest Tour ever, but I know that this year's Tour was something on another level,' Pogacar told reporters after finishing Saturday's 20th stage in the main bunch. "Maybe one day we went a bit easier, but if you look at the power files throughout the whole Tour, it's been really amazing and tough. Even today we almost went all out from start to finish.' The 26-year-old, who previously won the race in 2020, 2021 and last year, said the grueling route had tested the peloton to its limits. "I must say that even though it was the hardest, one of the hardest Tours I ever did, I enjoyed it and had good shape and good legs. Really looking forward to the last day tomorrow,' Pogacar, who has won 10 stages in the last two Tours, added. After crossing the line on the penultimate stage, Pogacar, who on Friday said he was counting down the kilometers to Paris, hinted at a quick return to his bike despite three punishing weeks on the road. "Monday, I travel home, Tuesday maybe I go on the bike. You never know — if I feel good, I do a bit of riding, stop for coffee and enjoy summer at home," he said with a smile. Asked about a possible appearance at the Vuelta a Espana later this year, Pogacar remained non-committal. "We will decide a couple of days after the Tour, after everything is calm. Then we can make decisions for the next races," he said. "I think it's going to be tough to decide. Of course, I would like to go to the Vuelta. Every year I do the Tour and I would like to do the Vuelta one day also, yeah, we will see." World champion Pogacar has won the Tour three times, achieved a rare Giro-Tour double last year, and has already claimed victory in three of the five Monuments — the most prestigious one-day races — prompting comparisons with Belgian all-time great Eddy Merckx.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store