Jonas Vingegaard knows that Tadej Pogacar is almost unbeatable this season. But the Danish rider starts the Tour de France with confidence on Saturday. “Otherwise I should have stayed at home.”
Visma-Lease A Bike has made an extensive plan for the Tour every year. But Vingegaard wants to say nothing about this on Friday morning at a busy press conference in a small hotel room just outside Lille. “Because then Tadej knows,” says the leader of the Dutch team with a smile.
In the run -up to the 112nd edition of the Tour de France, it is mainly about the game between Vingegaard and Pogacar. The rivals have put down a special series in the Tour in the last four years. Both won twice in that period – Pogacar in 2021 and 2024 and Vingegaard in 2022 and 2023 – and both finished twice.
Defending champion Pogacar starts on Saturday in Lille as the big favorite. The 26-year-old Slovenian already won eleven races this year and was much stronger than Vingegaard in the Critérium du Dauphiné last month. But Visma-Lease A Bike does not want to accept the supremacy of the world champion in advance.
“If we were afraid of Tadej, we should have stayed at home,” says Vingegaard. “Of course we have a lot of respect for him. Tadej is a nice guy and a great rider. But I hope to be able to beat him in the coming three weeks.”
Visma believes in power in a difficult first Tour week
As always, Vingegaard and Visma-Lease A Bike mainly point to the power of their team. The Deen can count on Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates and top climbers Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson in the mountains. For the flat and hilly rides, Tiesj Benoot, Wout van Aert, Victor Campenaerts and Edoardo Affini were taken.
“As far as I am concerned, we have a Dream team,” says Vingegaard. “I believe we will have the strongest team in the mountains. And we also have many men who are top in classics.”
The latter aspect will be very important in the upcoming Tour. In the first ten days, the organization has drawn many difficult stages, with spicy hills at the end. The profile of those rides has similarities with the one -day races from the spring, such as the Tour of Flanders.
“The chaos will come naturally in the first week,” says first team leader Grischa Niermann of Visma-Lease a Bike. “It will be an interesting start to the Tour, which will have a lot of impact on the end result. That is why we took the right riders for that.”
Vingegaard has received more muscle mass
The Dutch formation also counts that Vingegaard itself is better than ever. The leader did not start the Tour in optimum condition last year, because he had experienced a tough fall three months earlier in the Tour of the Basque Country. He was in the hospital for two weeks and lost a lot of muscle mass.
This season, Vingegaard focused on strength training and that has had an effect. “I can say that I am stronger than ever. I am also heavier than last year. That is all muscle mass that I know will give me more power.”
Niermann: “This year everything went well in the last months of preparation for the Tour. We are ready for a nice fight with Pogacar with Jonas and the entire team.”
Jonas Vingegaard Knows That Tadej Pogacar is Almost Unbeatable This Season. But the Danish Rider Starts the Tour de France with Confidence on Saturday. “Otherwise I might as well have stayed at home.”
Visma-Lease A Bike, As Every Year, Has Made an Extensive Plan for the Tour. But Vingegaard Doesn’tn’t Want to say anything about it on Friday Morning at a Busy Press Conference in a Small Hotel Room Just Outside Lille. “Because then tadej will know it too,” says the leader of the Dutch team with a smile.
In the run-up to the 112th edition of the Tour de France, it is Mainly about the Duel Between Vingegaard and Pogacar Again. The Rivals Have Put Down A Special Series In The Tour Over The Past Four Years. Both won Twice in that Period – Pogacar in 2021 and 2024 and Vingegaard in 2022 and 2023 – and Both Finished Second Twice.
Defending Champion Pogacar Starts As The Big Favorite in Lille on Saturday. The 26-Year-old Slovenian Has Already won Eleven Races this year and was much Stronger Than Vingegaard in the Critérium du Dauphiné Last Month. But Visma-Lease a bike does not want to accept the supremacy of the world champion in Advance.
“If we were afraid of tadej, we might as well have stayed at home,” Says Vingegaard. “Or course we have a lot of respect for him. Tadej is a nice guy and a great rider. But I hope to be able to beat him in the next three weeks.”
Visma Believes in Strength in Difficult First Tour Week
As Always, Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike Mainly Point to the Strength of Their Team. In The Mountains, The Dane Can Count on Giro d’Italia Winner Simon Yates and Top Climbers Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson. Tiesj Benoot, Wout van Aert, Victor Campenaerts and Edoardo Affini Have Been Brought Along for the Flat and Hilly Rides.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have a dream team,” Says Vingegaard. “I believe that we have the strongest team in the mountains. And we also have many men who are top in classics.”
That last aspect will be very important in the upcoming tour. In The First Ten Days, The Organization Has Drawn Up Many Difficult Stages, With Tough Hills At The End. The Profile of Those Rides Has Similarities with the One-Day races from the Spring, Such as the Tour of Flanders.
“The Chaos Will Come Naturally in the First Week,” Says First Team Leader Grischa Niermann or Visma-Lease A Bike. “It will be an interesting start to the tour, which will have a major impact on the final result. That is why we have brought the right riders for that.”
Vingegaard has gained more muscle mass
The Dutch Formation also expects that Vingegaard himself is better than ever. The Leader Did Not Start The Tour in Optimal Condition Last Year, because he had experienced a serious crash in the tour of the basque country three months Earlier. He was in Hospital for Two Weeks and Lost a Lot of Muscle Mass.
Vingegaard Focused on Strength Training This Season and That Has had an effect. “I can say that I am stronger than ever. I am also heavy more than last year. That is all muscle mass, which I know will give me more power.”
Niermann: “This year Everything is used in the Last Months of Preparation for the Tour. Jonas and the Whole Team Are Ready for a Good Fight With Pogacar.”