Jonas Vingegaard believes in another Tour victory despite a significant deficit to Tadej Pogacar. The Dane needs to make up a deficit of four minutes and thirteen seconds in the remaining six stages.
“I can still win the Tour,” Vingegaard said on Monday at the press conference on the second rest day. “I must and I will attack. I am prepared to sacrifice my second place to go all-in for the final victory.”
The leader of Visma-Lease a Bike feels increasingly fitter and looks forward to the third week. “The third week is always my strongest in a grand tour and I feel myself growing in this Tour. I feel like I’m getting better every day.”
Two-time Tour winner Vingegaard emphasized during his press conference that the difference with Pogacar is only so great because of his two bad days. “Normally I never have those bad days. We are still investigating where they come from.”
But the two-year younger Pogacar has hardly experienced any setbacks. The Slovenian had a nasty fall in the final of the eleventh stage, but did not lose time. The UEA rider has been suffering from a cold in recent days.
Yet Vingegaard does not expect Pogacar to race less well because of his runny nose. “He is the most versatile rider and has not yet shown any weaknesses.” Laughing: “Otherwise I would have taken advantage of that.”