One of the big questions of this 111th Tour de Francenamely if Jonas Vingegaard has the legs to offer a new battle against Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), is starting to be clarified. Yes, we will have to count on the Dane of the Visma | Lease a Bike over these three weeks of racing. You only have to see the ease with which the double winner coming out of the Big loop jumped into the wheels of Pogacar at the time of his offensive in the peloton’s second passage up the demanding San Luca hill. And the first surprise was Jonas Vingegaard himself, who did not expect to respond so well to the imperial form of the new wearer of the yellow jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard reassured after the 2nd stage of the Tour
“I’m very close to my usual level”
Today (Sunday) was a very good day for me, confessed Jonas Vingegaard after arrival. It was one of the days where I expected to lose time to Pogacar, so being able to follow him is a victory for me. It was one of the stages I feared the most. We rode at a fast pace from the start of the climb and UAE Emirates took over. When Pogacar attacked, I was able to follow him. At the top, I decided to ride with him. My pedal touched the ground somewhere along the way and I thought about the injuries. But I won’t say I’m afraid on the descents.”
“It’s hard to start a race when you don’t know how good you are, he continues. I trained for a month and a half, so it was very difficult to say where I would be. I also doubted myself, that’s not a lie. But now I can say that I’m back, and I hope we’ll have three good weeks here. In any case, I’m very close to my usual level.” Before concluding with attention to his teammates Wout van Aert et Matteo Jorgenson who fell: “Of course I was worried. They are two such important riders for me.”
