Jonas Vingegaard could languish over three minutes down on Tour de France chief Tadej Pogačar after the weekend’s Pyrenean phases, however the Dane is not giving up hope on successful the race for a 3rd time.
3:09 separate the Visma-Lease A Bike chief and the yellow jersey after he misplaced 43 seconds on Pla d’Adet and 1:12 on the climb to Plateau de Beille. .
Yet Vingegaard nonetheless hopes to make a distinction within the closing week of the Tour, with a handful of arduous phases within the Alps left to race and the ultimate hilly time trial to Nice.
“If somebody is healthier, it’s important to settle for that. He is healthier in the mean time. Hopefully, I can nonetheless do one thing within the third week,” Vingegaard mentioned throughout Visma-Lease A Bike’s relaxation day press convention.
“I can’t merely settle for this consequence. I’ve already gained this race twice. I did not come right here to come back second. I’ll do all the pieces I can to realize that.
“Pogačar seems to be very robust in the mean time, however we additionally know that he has had a nasty day previously within the third week. Loads can nonetheless occur. Mentally, I’ll by no means crack. I’ll hold preventing with all the pieces I’ve. I have never misplaced religion but.”
Vingegaard mentioned his focus is on “wanting ahead” to the Tour’s high spot, moderately than wanting again to defend in opposition to third-placed Remco Evenepoel, who lies 5:19 adrift of Pogačar.
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His teammate Wout van Aert mentioned that the staff has missed a number of riders to assist Vingegaard within the battle in opposition to Pogačar, with Sepp Kuss and Steven Kruijswijk each dominated out of Visma’s Tour squad within the lead-in to the race.
“We miss Sepp Kuss and Steven Kruijswijk particularly on the climbs,” he mentioned.
“On Sunday we tried to tire everybody out as a lot as attainable with our tempo all through the day. We succeeded but it surely simply did not have sufficient affect on Pogačar. We have to simply accept that. With different riders on this Tour, we would not have been capable of do rather more, I believe.
“Everyone rode actually arduous all day lengthy. That’s why I could not consider that these two had damaged all of the climbing data after such a troublesome experience. Jonas was tremendous robust, however we’ve to simply accept that Pogačar is healthier in the mean time.”
Van Aert mentioned that he wasn’t stunned by the excessive climbing performances within the Pyrenees, which noticed Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel smash Marco Pantani’s 26-year-old Plateau de Beille climbing report.
“The degree within the peloton is larger yearly anyway,” the Belgian mentioned.
“Just have a look at the numbers within the final 5 years – all climbing data have been damaged repeatedly. Not by me, but it surely’s nothing new that it has occurred once more.
“You even have to understand that all the pieces develops, all the pieces is healthier yearly – the bikes, coaching, strategies, you title it. As a consequence, we as riders experience quicker and quicker.”
The Belgian, in addition to driving in help of Vingegaard, can be going for his personal possibilities at this Tour de France. He has three podium spots to his title up to now, however time is working out to take a tenth profession stage win on the race.
“This is the Tour de France and I’m right here for a consequence. I do trust that my health can enhance with the remaining that follows after the Tour,” he mentioned.
“I don’t begin any stage with the thought of taking a step ahead when it comes to health. I begin each stage with a aim. Sometimes that’s making an attempt to win the stage; final weekend it was to assist Jonas as greatest as attainable. That may even be the division for the approaching week.
“I anticipate the stage on Wednesday to Superdevoluy to be one for the escapees, the place they’ll battle for the victory. But that stage is kind of powerful, with an uphill end too. There is an enormous probability that there’ll all the time be a greater climber in that group than I’m in the mean time in order that can be tough for me.
“I believe my likelihood is higher on Thursday [stage 18] to Barcelonette, however there can be extra riders who assume the identical. Being within the breakaway on that day can be a battle in itself.”