{"id":2052571,"date":"2026-07-19T22:23:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052571"},"modified":"2026-07-19T22:23:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:23:59","slug":"jonas-vingegaard-abandoning-the-tour-de-france-doesnt-just-make-a-fifth-tadej-pogacar-victory-even-more-likely-it-radically-alters-how-well-perceive-it-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052571","title":{"rendered":"Jonas Vingegaard abandoning the Tour de France doesn&#8217;t just make a fifth Tadej Poga\u010dar victory even more likely, it radically alters how we&#8217;ll perceive it \u2013 Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wm8EWp7sSyGBcoXqRLHGyJ-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wm8EWp7sSyGBcoXqRLHGyJ-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Jonas Vingegaard crashes out of Tour de France \u2013 Dane suffers broken collarbone and will undergo surgery\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;It&#8217;s no use hanging your head&#8217; \u2013 Jonas Vingegaard gives his first reaction since exiting the Tour de France\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nVisma-Lease a Bike\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Jonas Vingegaard abandoning the Tour de France doesn&#8217;t just make a fifth Tadej Poga\u010dar victory even more likely, it radically alters how we&#8217;ll perceive it \u2013 Analysis<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-19T22:23:59Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Dane&#8217;s untimely exit shuts down only current access path to Slovenian&#8217;s league of his own<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Tour de France 2026 stage 15: Jonas Vingegaard on a descent<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82\">Around 6:30pm on Sunday evening, at roughly the same time that Jonas Vingegaard was visiting the Tour de France&#8217;s medical vehicle just outside its main media centre for definitive confirmation of his broken collarbone, journalists inside were hearing Tadej Poga\u010dar give a video-linked post-stage press conference discussing Vingegaard&#8217;s absence.<\/p>\n<p>The Slovenian&#8217;s comments were succinct but heartfelt, making it clear that the link between himself and the rider two years his senior was much more than just having Vingegaard as his most tenacious rival in this year&#8217;s battle. But in essence, it boiled down to one very simple phrase Poga\u010dar made about the Visma-Lease a Bike leader: &#8220;The Tour won&#8217;t be the same without him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">You can certainly say that again. The way Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard have occupied the top two spots of the Tour podium for the last five years, no matter the order, was already a record for any Grand Tour, and since 2021, their rivalry has essentially defined the GC race. Each year there&#8217;s been a different person on the third step of the podium, two of them &#8211; Geraint Thomas and Richard Carapaz &#8211; Grand Tour winners in their own right. But the two planets circling each other at the very top of the Tour hierarchy have remained the same, in a splendid isolation all of their own making and choosing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">No matter the result, the tenacity which Poga\u010dar has shown in his determination to win the Tour has been matched, pedal-stroke for pedal-stroke, by Vingegaard throughout that time, and Poga\u010dar would be the first to agree that at least once Vingegaard&#8217;s determination has been in a class of its own.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After all, if Poga\u010dar came back to the 2023 Tour with his right arm still in a sling because of his broken wrist injury in Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge that April, then in 2024 Vingegaard returned to the Tour just months after a downhill crash had left him lying on the side of the road in the Basque Country so badly hurt he was not certain if he was dying. It wasn&#8217;t a mere participation for the sake of it, either: in the 2024 Tour up until the Pyrenees, it looked as if Vingegaard was poised to add a third Tour to those he&#8217;d won in 2022 and 2023. As we all know, that wasn&#8217;t to be &#8211; but the courage Vingegaard showed in doing his utmost to return to the Tour after such a horrendous crash, and injuries remained etched in cycling&#8217;s collective memory.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He\u2019s missing a little bit compared to other Tours&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar observes Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s weaknesses at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For the last two years, even while Poga\u010dar has not only remained in command of yellow and stretched the distance between the two of them on GC, Vingegaard has remained just as doggedly determined to shorten that gap. That it hasn&#8217;t worked &#8211; and the way Vingegaard has gone off and added other Grand Tours to his palmares in the meantime is in some ways a tacit admission of that &#8211; is in some ways beside the point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Come what may, Vingegaard has continued to keep the Tour as his main goal of the year, and that has made him the reference point for those wanting to take on Poga\u010dar as well. As Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe&#8217;s lead director Patxi Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> after Le Lioran, when he was asked if it was possible for his two leaders to beat Poga\u010dar, he instantly pointed the short-term goal to be beating Vingegaard. &#8220;If we win that battle,&#8221; he said, &#8220;then we&#8217;ll move onto another battle.&#8221; To get to Poga\u010dar, in other words, you had to get through Vingegaard first.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In fact, over the last five years, such consistent maintenance of his &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; status has meant that Vingegaard has remained the link between the &#8216;first mortals&#8217; behind Poga\u010dar and the stratospheric level at which the four-time Tour winner operates.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The distance between the Slovenian and the Dane was a notable one, and even this year Poga\u010dar was pointing out that while Vingegaard was turning out some amazing rides, he&#8217;d actually gone down a notch or two compared to 2025. Certainly there were numerous voices pointing out how the battle for the podium was more open than ever. But that&#8217;s only a reminder that, in previous Tours, just as there was a yawning gap between Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard, there was an almost equally important distance between the Dane and the rest of the field.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So as a result, with Vingegaard out of contention, the podium battle now opens up more intensely than at any point in Pogacar&#8217;s reign in yellow. And that&#8217;s something that could have an interesting (or, at the very least, unprecedented) series of effects on how the UAE racer handles things from his lofty position on GC, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One immediate consequence is that Visma&#8217;s increasingly effective work on the front on mountain stages &#8211; most notably in trying to bring back the break on stage 15, only for Vingegaard to crash out &#8211; will now be replaced by bids for stage wins. That, in turn, could mean UAE have more work on their plate to control the climbs, even if Poga\u010dar himself appears more than able to handle any challenges to his domination. As a result, a more anarchic third week than usual may yet materialize, and if Poga\u010dar was already taking on a role in the podium battle beneath him when he shepherded Isaac del Toro to the Solaison summit on stage 15, he may find himself drawn into the GC podium tussle in ways he does not want to as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Certainly, in any case, the sparks will fly harder than ever to occupy a spot which was widely taken for granted as belonging to Vingegaard. But bereft of a rider who, even when losing, was always an integral element of Pogacar&#8217;s victories, the Tour has now been deprived of an interesting point that for the last five years it had taken for granted. And above all, no matter who fills the power vacuum abruptly created between here and Paris, after five years of such tenacious resistance to the Poga\u010dar rule of law, the gap left by Vingegaard will likely tower over whatever they can achieve in the third week of the 2026 Tour.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c936d4-83bb-11f1-a70e-79a5141c36e1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<p>Jonas Vingegaard<\/p>\n<p>Tadej Pogacar<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He\u2019s missing a little bit compared to other Tours&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar observes Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s weaknesses at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Wout van Aert missing the Tour de France is a huge loss for Jonas Vingegaard, and the race itself<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He lost it on one day, he can turn it around on one day&#8217; \u2013 What now for Jonas Vingegaard and Visma after ending Tour de France first week with 2:42 deficit to Poga\u010dar?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Transfers<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Laurens De Plus joins big-name domestiques heading to Decathlon CMA CGM as team look to build around Paul Seixas<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Juan had a hard time&#8217; \u2013 After tough mountain stage, Lidl-Trek hope Juan Ayuso can turn GC campaign around in Tour de France third week<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The team cares more that Mads wins the green than I win a stage&#8217; \u2013 Quinn Simmons has to balance personal Tour de France goals with Lidl-Trek priorities<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We had no plan B&#8217; \u2013 With Jonas Vingegaard out of the Tour de France, how do shell-shocked Visma-Lease a Bike move on without their leader?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was a misunderstanding, but Remco was better&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar\u00a0suffers a rare defeat as he turns domestique at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s no use hanging your head&#8217; \u2013 Jonas Vingegaard gives his first reaction since exiting the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Tour de France is far from over &#8211; A triple header of mountains and 120 seconds are among the reasons why you should watch the last week<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The final week of the Tour de France will look completely different now that Vingegaard is out &#8211; Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From &#8216;freak&#8217; injury to another shot at that &#8216;elusive&#8217; win \u2013 Fred Wright finally finds feet at Pinarello-Q36.5 at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Right now the fight is for the podium&#8217; &#8211; Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare for two-handed GC game in Tour de France&#8217;s long weekend of mountain stages<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Training<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What kind of sprinter are you? Understanding the key strengths of Tour de France fastmen \u2013 and how to beat them<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France tour of revenge is almost complete \u2013 Which demons are still left to slay?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">The Tour de France is far from over &#8211; A triple header of mountains and 120 seconds are among the reasons why you should watch the last week<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Laurens De Plus joins big-name domestiques heading to Decathlon CMA CGM as team look to build around Paul Seixas<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;The main goal is to have Remco on the podium in Paris&#8217; \u2013 Florian Lipowitz ready to work for Evenepoel in Tour de France podium battle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I did cry and I did almost quit multiple times&#8217; \u2013 Maddy Nutt rides a rocking saddle to victory at The Rift Gravel 330km as Chase Wark wins Icelandic men&#8217;s race<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nVisma-Lease a Bike\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Jonas Vingegaard abandoning the Tour de France doesn&#8217;t just make a fifth Tadej Poga\u010dar victory even more likely, it radically alters how we&#8217;ll perceive it \u2013 Analysis<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-19T22:23:59Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Dane&#8217;s untimely exit shuts down only current access path to Slovenian&#8217;s league of his own<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Tour de France 2026 stage 15: Jonas Vingegaard on a descent<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82\">Around 6:30pm on Sunday evening, at roughly the same time that Jonas Vingegaard was visiting the Tour de France&#8217;s medical vehicle just outside its main media centre for definitive confirmation of his broken collarbone, journalists inside were hearing Tadej Poga\u010dar give a video-linked post-stage press conference discussing Vingegaard&#8217;s absence.<\/p>\n<p>The Slovenian&#8217;s comments were succinct but heartfelt, making it clear that the link between himself and the rider two years his senior was much more than just having Vingegaard as his most tenacious rival in this year&#8217;s battle. But in essence, it boiled down to one very simple phrase Poga\u010dar made about the Visma-Lease a Bike leader: &#8220;The Tour won&#8217;t be the same without him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">You can certainly say that again. The way Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard have occupied the top two spots of the Tour podium for the last five years, no matter the order, was already a record for any Grand Tour, and since 2021, their rivalry has essentially defined the GC race. Each year there&#8217;s been a different person on the third step of the podium, two of them &#8211; Geraint Thomas and Richard Carapaz &#8211; Grand Tour winners in their own right. But the two planets circling each other at the very top of the Tour hierarchy have remained the same, in a splendid isolation all of their own making and choosing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">No matter the result, the tenacity which Poga\u010dar has shown in his determination to win the Tour has been matched, pedal-stroke for pedal-stroke, by Vingegaard throughout that time, and Poga\u010dar would be the first to agree that at least once Vingegaard&#8217;s determination has been in a class of its own.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After all, if Poga\u010dar came back to the 2023 Tour with his right arm still in a sling because of his broken wrist injury in Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge that April, then in 2024 Vingegaard returned to the Tour just months after a downhill crash had left him lying on the side of the road in the Basque Country so badly hurt he was not certain if he was dying. It wasn&#8217;t a mere participation for the sake of it, either: in the 2024 Tour up until the Pyrenees, it looked as if Vingegaard was poised to add a third Tour to those he&#8217;d won in 2022 and 2023. As we all know, that wasn&#8217;t to be &#8211; but the courage Vingegaard showed in doing his utmost to return to the Tour after such a horrendous crash, and injuries remained etched in cycling&#8217;s collective memory.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He\u2019s missing a little bit compared to other Tours&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar observes Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s weaknesses at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For the last two years, even while Poga\u010dar has not only remained in command of yellow and stretched the distance between the two of them on GC, Vingegaard has remained just as doggedly determined to shorten that gap. That it hasn&#8217;t worked &#8211; and the way Vingegaard has gone off and added other Grand Tours to his palmares in the meantime is in some ways a tacit admission of that &#8211; is in some ways beside the point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Come what may, Vingegaard has continued to keep the Tour as his main goal of the year, and that has made him the reference point for those wanting to take on Poga\u010dar as well. As Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe&#8217;s lead director Patxi Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> after Le Lioran, when he was asked if it was possible for his two leaders to beat Poga\u010dar, he instantly pointed the short-term goal to be beating Vingegaard. &#8220;If we win that battle,&#8221; he said, &#8220;then we&#8217;ll move onto another battle.&#8221; To get to Poga\u010dar, in other words, you had to get through Vingegaard first.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In fact, over the last five years, such consistent maintenance of his &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; status has meant that Vingegaard has remained the link between the &#8216;first mortals&#8217; behind Poga\u010dar and the stratospheric level at which the four-time Tour winner operates.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The distance between the Slovenian and the Dane was a notable one, and even this year Poga\u010dar was pointing out that while Vingegaard was turning out some amazing rides, he&#8217;d actually gone down a notch or two compared to 2025. Certainly there were numerous voices pointing out how the battle for the podium was more open than ever. But that&#8217;s only a reminder that, in previous Tours, just as there was a yawning gap between Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard, there was an almost equally important distance between the Dane and the rest of the field.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So as a result, with Vingegaard out of contention, the podium battle now opens up more intensely than at any point in Pogacar&#8217;s reign in yellow. And that&#8217;s something that could have an interesting (or, at the very least, unprecedented) series of effects on how the UAE racer handles things from his lofty position on GC, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One immediate consequence is that Visma&#8217;s increasingly effective work on the front on mountain stages &#8211; most notably in trying to bring back the break on stage 15, only for Vingegaard to crash out &#8211; will now be replaced by bids for stage wins. That, in turn, could mean UAE have more work on their plate to control the climbs, even if Poga\u010dar himself appears more than able to handle any challenges to his domination. As a result, a more anarchic third week than usual may yet materialize, and if Poga\u010dar was already taking on a role in the podium battle beneath him when he shepherded Isaac del Toro to the Solaison summit on stage 15, he may find himself drawn into the GC podium tussle in ways he does not want to as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Certainly, in any case, the sparks will fly harder than ever to occupy a spot which was widely taken for granted as belonging to Vingegaard. But bereft of a rider who, even when losing, was always an integral element of Pogacar&#8217;s victories, the Tour has now been deprived of an interesting point that for the last five years it had taken for granted. And above all, no matter who fills the power vacuum abruptly created between here and Paris, after five years of such tenacious resistance to the Poga\u010dar rule of law, the gap left by Vingegaard will likely tower over whatever they can achieve in the third week of the 2026 Tour.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c936d4-83bb-11f1-a70e-79a5141c36e1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<p>Jonas Vingegaard<\/p>\n<p>Tadej Pogacar<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He\u2019s missing a little bit compared to other Tours&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar observes Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s weaknesses at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9MbG9GdU3mvWprkKgLmHo8-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Wout van Aert missing the Tour de France is a huge loss for Jonas Vingegaard, and the race itself<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JQQJAizYSEtJN542d3R4sA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He lost it on one day, he can turn it around on one day&#8217; \u2013 What now for Jonas Vingegaard and Visma after ending Tour de France first week with 2:42 deficit to Poga\u010dar?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hvKStmgent8rQ3HxHLG9qD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Transfers<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Laurens De Plus joins big-name domestiques heading to Decathlon CMA CGM as team look to build around Paul Seixas<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L4EMQNcGXbP3b5och8tduh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Juan had a hard time&#8217; \u2013 After tough mountain stage, Lidl-Trek hope Juan Ayuso can turn GC campaign around in Tour de France third week<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TEzNn6EwoSDPXzasgmzeHe-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The team cares more that Mads wins the green than I win a stage&#8217; \u2013 Quinn Simmons has to balance personal Tour de France goals with Lidl-Trek priorities<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQJEWk9qrgBVz3XxVDQgDM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We had no plan B&#8217; \u2013 With Jonas Vingegaard out of the Tour de France, how do shell-shocked Visma-Lease a Bike move on without their leader?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eVSE6LWDoYCc2yxTskQHdR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was a misunderstanding, but Remco was better&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar\u00a0suffers a rare defeat as he turns domestique at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zFchhNtsTbFfNi6L66gpxR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s no use hanging your head&#8217; \u2013 Jonas Vingegaard gives his first reaction since exiting the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Tour de France is far from over &#8211; A triple header of mountains and 120 seconds are among the reasons why you should watch the last week<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k3r8TcSdavdJe6699pairn-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The final week of the Tour de France will look completely different now that Vingegaard is out &#8211; Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6rU8a7Ydjdz6pNiY9xMCK6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From &#8216;freak&#8217; injury to another shot at that &#8216;elusive&#8217; win \u2013 Fred Wright finally finds feet at Pinarello-Q36.5 at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pG2ZAN4hpK6gZUCivVcFJ7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Right now the fight is for the podium&#8217; &#8211; Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare for two-handed GC game in Tour de France&#8217;s long weekend of mountain stages<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BiHekMhjdxc5ycifqhpGNb-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Training<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What kind of sprinter are you? Understanding the key strengths of Tour de France fastmen \u2013 and how to beat them<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YN6WMzxsY6XnwL738UGTp-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France tour of revenge is almost complete \u2013 Which demons are still left to slay?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bfQauWLuZAGb6barKaJcVg.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">The Tour de France is far from over &#8211; A triple header of mountains and 120 seconds are among the reasons why you should watch the last week<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Laurens De Plus joins big-name domestiques heading to Decathlon CMA CGM as team look to build around Paul Seixas<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;The main goal is to have Remco on the podium in Paris&#8217; \u2013 Florian Lipowitz ready to work for Evenepoel in Tour de France podium battle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I did cry and I did almost quit multiple times&#8217; \u2013 Maddy Nutt rides a rocking saddle to victory at The Rift Gravel 330km as Chase Wark wins Icelandic men&#8217;s race<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nVisma-Lease a Bike\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Jonas Vingegaard abandoning the Tour de France doesn&#8217;t just make a fifth Tadej Poga\u010dar victory even more likely, it radically alters how we&#8217;ll perceive it \u2013 Analysis<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-19T22:23:59Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Dane&#8217;s untimely exit shuts down only current access path to Slovenian&#8217;s league of his own<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82\">Around 6:30pm on Sunday evening, at roughly the same time that Jonas Vingegaard was visiting the Tour de France&#8217;s medical vehicle just outside its main media centre for definitive confirmation of his broken collarbone, journalists inside were hearing Tadej Poga\u010dar give a video-linked post-stage press conference discussing Vingegaard&#8217;s absence.<\/p>\n<p>The Slovenian&#8217;s comments were succinct but heartfelt, making it clear that the link between himself and the rider two years his senior was much more than just having Vingegaard as his most tenacious rival in this year&#8217;s battle. But in essence, it boiled down to one very simple phrase Poga\u010dar made about the Visma-Lease a Bike leader: &#8220;The Tour won&#8217;t be the same without him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c935c6-83bb-11f1-9e24-e78a4fabea82-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">You can certainly say that again. The way Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard have occupied the top two spots of the Tour podium for the last five years, no matter the order, was already a record for any Grand Tour, and since 2021, their rivalry has essentially defined the GC race. Each year there&#8217;s been a different person on the third step of the podium, two of them &#8211; Geraint Thomas and Richard Carapaz &#8211; Grand Tour winners in their own right. But the two planets circling each other at the very top of the Tour hierarchy have remained the same, in a splendid isolation all of their own making and choosing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">No matter the result, the tenacity which Poga\u010dar has shown in his determination to win the Tour has been matched, pedal-stroke for pedal-stroke, by Vingegaard throughout that time, and Poga\u010dar would be the first to agree that at least once Vingegaard&#8217;s determination has been in a class of its own.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After all, if Poga\u010dar came back to the 2023 Tour with his right arm still in a sling because of his broken wrist injury in Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge that April, then in 2024 Vingegaard returned to the Tour just months after a downhill crash had left him lying on the side of the road in the Basque Country so badly hurt he was not certain if he was dying. It wasn&#8217;t a mere participation for the sake of it, either: in the 2024 Tour up until the Pyrenees, it looked as if Vingegaard was poised to add a third Tour to those he&#8217;d won in 2022 and 2023. As we all know, that wasn&#8217;t to be &#8211; but the courage Vingegaard showed in doing his utmost to return to the Tour after such a horrendous crash, and injuries remained etched in cycling&#8217;s collective memory.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uE3fMfenEq6QVQ3TsmzPWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He\u2019s missing a little bit compared to other Tours&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar observes Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s weaknesses at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/r9fHLJ4q3CUrcC2mEGwsbf-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s losing battle brings podium scramble into focus \u2013 GC analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For the last two years, even while Poga\u010dar has not only remained in command of yellow and stretched the distance between the two of them on GC, Vingegaard has remained just as doggedly determined to shorten that gap. That it hasn&#8217;t worked &#8211; and the way Vingegaard has gone off and added other Grand Tours to his palmares in the meantime is in some ways a tacit admission of that &#8211; is in some ways beside the point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Come what may, Vingegaard has continued to keep the Tour as his main goal of the year, and that has made him the reference point for those wanting to take on Poga\u010dar as well. As Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe&#8217;s lead director Patxi Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> after Le Lioran, when he was asked if it was possible for his two leaders to beat Poga\u010dar, he instantly pointed the short-term goal to be beating Vingegaard. &#8220;If we win that battle,&#8221; he said, &#8220;then we&#8217;ll move onto another battle.&#8221; To get to Poga\u010dar, in other words, you had to get through Vingegaard first.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-H898WyQ3eRC63ygXT6c9vQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In fact, over the last five years, such consistent maintenance of his &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; status has meant that Vingegaard has remained the link between the &#8216;first mortals&#8217; behind Poga\u010dar and the stratospheric level at which the four-time Tour winner operates.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The distance between the Slovenian and the Dane was a notable one, and even this year Poga\u010dar was pointing out that while Vingegaard was turning out some amazing rides, he&#8217;d actually gone down a notch or two compared to 2025. Certainly there were numerous voices pointing out how the battle for the podium was more open than ever. But that&#8217;s only a reminder that, in previous Tours, just as there was a yawning gap between Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard, there was an almost equally important distance between the Dane and the rest of the field.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So as a result, with Vingegaard out of contention, the podium battle now opens up more intensely than at any point in Pogacar&#8217;s reign in yellow. And that&#8217;s something that could have an interesting (or, at the very least, unprecedented) series of effects on how the UAE racer handles things from his lofty position on GC, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One immediate consequence is that Visma&#8217;s increasingly effective work on the front on mountain stages &#8211; most notably in trying to bring back the break on stage 15, only for Vingegaard to crash out &#8211; will now be replaced by bids for stage wins. That, in turn, could mean UAE have more work on their plate to control the climbs, even if Poga\u010dar himself appears more than able to handle any challenges to his domination. As a result, a more anarchic third week than usual may yet materialize, and if Poga\u010dar was already taking on a role in the podium battle beneath him when he shepherded Isaac del Toro to the Solaison summit on stage 15, he may find himself drawn into the GC podium tussle in ways he does not want to as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Certainly, in any case, the sparks will fly harder than ever to occupy a spot which was widely taken for granted as belonging to Vingegaard. But bereft of a rider who, even when losing, was always an integral element of Pogacar&#8217;s victories, the Tour has now been deprived of an interesting point that for the last five years it had taken for granted. And above all, no matter who fills the power vacuum abruptly created between here and Paris, after five years of such tenacious resistance to the Poga\u010dar rule of law, the gap left by Vingegaard will likely tower over whatever they can achieve in the third week of the 2026 Tour.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-80c936d4-83bb-11f1-a70e-79a5141c36e1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/jonas-vingegaards-abandon-of-the-tour-de-france-doesnt-just-lengthen-the-already-heavy-odds-of-a-fifth-tadej-pogacar-victory-it-radically-alters-how-well-perceive-it-analysis\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5wDPHRbVsahtYH5RtA5dJ7-1024-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 Jonas Vingegaard crashes out of Tour de France \u2013 Dane suffers broken collarbone and will undergo surgery 2 &#8216;It&#8217;s no use hanging your head&#8217; \u2013 Jonas Vingegaard gives his first reaction since exiting the Tour de France 3 Peerless Poga\u010dar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2052571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2052571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052571\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2052571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2052571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2052571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}