Repeatedly this season, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) has stood head and shoulders above any of his so-called rivals. However on a day of relentless climbing in stage 11 of the Tour de France, the hitherto seemingly unimaginable state of affairs lastly occurred – and after Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) beat Pogačar in a two-up dash – the fuse had lastly been lit on a dramatic GC battle between the Danish defending champion and the Slovenian star.
When the Tour de France chief pulled away from the remainder of the general contenders 500 metres from the summit of Le Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol, it had all the texture of an assault by Pogačar that might depart the Tour determined with practically half of the race left to go.
However as an alternative of the Massif Central mountains witnessing a repeat of the Pogačar runaway assault to Tignes in 2021, Vingegaard clawed his means again into competition on the class 2 Col de Pertus that adopted, in the end overhauling Pogačar for the stage victory.
Whereas Pogačar insisted later that the double-defending Tour de France champion could be very a lot “within the type of his life”, the jury could also be out on that exact query and Vingegaard himself denies it.
However in both case, after Pogačar´s first defeat by his arch-rival Vingegaard on this 12 months’s Tour, and one in all only a tiny handful of setbacks this season, the GC race is not – as at some factors it has appeared – flowing irresistibly within the Slovenian’s favour.
“It was a dash after a troublesome, robust day and he was 5 centimetres sooner than me, chapeau to him,” Pogačar informed reporters about his shock defeat.
“Now everyone sees he’s in one of the best form of profession, now we are able to say it’s a good battle. In my view, if the followers have been watching, this was top-of-the-line levels of the race.
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“In fact, I’m a bit upset, however I nonetheless had a great time out, significantly within the warmth. I´m happy with the day I had and so hats off to Jonas, however there can be extra alternatives.”
Whereas Vingegaard´s comeback seems to be going from energy to energy, Pogačar stated that his personal technique had been to go all out on the Puy Mary, a climb the place he holds the file for the quickest ascent for the reason that 2020 Tour de France, after which attempt to keep away alone to the end.
“I simply needed to go for it as a result of I do know this climb rather well, somewhat than making a spot on the descent that adopted. I assumed I may go all the way in which to the end, like on the Galibier, however Jonas was actually good on the second-last climb.”
Pogačar’s transfer on the Puy Mary a knock-out blow, however then on the next ascent, he didn’t appear to be shifting as easily or with practically as a lot conviction. To cap all of it, the Slovenian stated, not figuring out how far he needed to the end left him feeling “a bit confused”.
Alternatively, Vingegaard was “actually flying”. After trying again and catching sight of the Danish star in sizzling pursuit, Pogačar stated he “waited for him, rested a bit”.
“Perhaps it could have been higher to go over the restrict to try to maintain the hole on the climb. However he was going rather well,” Pogačar admitted. “Nicely, on the downhill, I felt fairly good, till one nook, my bike went actually sideways. I used to be possibly spending an excessive amount of power earlier than the beginning of second climb, however I nonetheless went good.
“After which I watch for him simply because I knew that in any case, he’ll come again even after the highest. So I attempt to recuperate a bit, take the bonus seconds and attempt to play for the dash ultimately.”
Just a few kilometres additional on, Pogačar was left reeling by Vingegaard´s closing dash for the road.
The UAE Crew Emirates chief stays very a lot answerable for GC, and because of his assault has pushed his closest rival Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) to over a minute’s drawback. It additionally shouldn’t be forgotten that it’s not the primary time he´s misplaced a small group dash on a hilly stage of a race this 12 months. On stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia, Pogačar put in a blistering assault on the ultimate climb, solely to be outpowered within the sprint for the road by Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers).
Nevertheless, Pogačar was greater than in a position to put the file straight the next day at Oropa, taking an total lead that he would by no means relinquish all the way in which to Rome. This time spherical when it got here to rivals, he stated, issues between himself and Vingegaard have been far more evenly matched proper now.
“At one level on this stage, one in all us was higher, at one other it was one other one,” he argued. “We have been fairly equal all spherical.
“The Pyrenees, it is totally different racing than as we speak. In Pyrenees, it’s larger climbs, a special type of racing. I am extra ready for that type of racing than what was as we speak.
“We’ll see what occurs within the actually excessive mountains, however for now, we’re kind of on an identical stage.”
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