"Halfway through the stage I had to switch my mindset" - Jonas Vingegaard admits the fight for the win is over at 2024 Tour de France
CyclingSaturday, 20 July 2024 at 10:46
There will be no third successive Tour de France victory for Jonas Vingegaard, barring a miracle on the final two stages. After another destructive display by Tadej Pogacar on stage 19, Vingegaard is now languishing over five minutes down in the general classification.
"I was not on a good day," Vingegaard admits afterwards in conversation with ITV Sport. "Halfway through the stage I had to switch my mindset from trying to go for the win and that was also the reason we had Matteo Jorgenson and Wilco Kelderman in the breakaway in the first place, to have satellite riders if I wanted to go."
Instead of Vingegaard attacking though, it turned into Vingegaard being attacked as Pogacar laid down the gauntlet once more with around 9km to go, with the Dane unable to answer his great rival. "Instead of attacking, I had to try and follow," Vingegaard explains. "Then we gave the chance to Matteo that he could try for the stage win and he did an incredible job."
Sadly for Jorgenson however, Pogacar, who was around three minutes down when he started his attack, managed to catch the American with 2km to go, and then put a further 21 seconds into him before the line. "Unfortunately he was caught in the end, but that's how it is," Vingegaard assesses ruefully.
"Maybe something is catching up with me now," Vingegaard concludes, noting his ruined preparation for this Tour after a horrific crash at the Itzulia Basque Country earlier this year. "I think it's normal that with only one and a half months of preparation. I said from the start it would be crazy if I could fight for the win with one and half months but I did it for two and a half weeks. Now, the fight for the win is over."
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- They're often referred to as bike fitting specialists, Mau.. Just Google "bike fitting" and you'll find the basic things you need to consider. In general, shorter cranks allows you to spin the pedals better (higher cadence, ala Tadej), at the expense of torque (like when you stand on the pedals, ala Jonas). It allows the bike geometry to be altered such that the rider is closer to the ground (more aero) because the bike's bottom bracket can be set lower to the ground. Just my 2-cents worth.FredMan27-06-2025
- What a really dumb question, 8 days before the TDF. Did he think XDS Astana team would be only 3 riders. Really have to wonder about some people.
Senna196027-06-2025 - Please give feedback if you do, Not sure what they’re officially called as I’ve never been to one but to anyone who’s been to any of these specialist bike posture outfits that claim to optimise your position and bike for you, did any of them do any testing with varying crank lengths? Never heard any such feedback from people I listened to.Mistermaumau26-06-2025
- Your answer wasn’t stupid, it was just unnecessarily vulgar that’s all, especially given that in an article practically devoid of text it said starting list 3 times with your preliminary almost hidden in a long list of repeated names not many would bother to look at. Hope you pay as much attention to the small print of your insurance policy and the like, they may not be as vulgar in answering but, well, one day you’ll remember this ;-)Mistermaumau26-06-2025
- As I proposed, Remco to wreak havoc before the mountain stages where Jonas foes hos job, forcing Pog to compete during the whole 3 weeks and maybe crack again. A bit like when the DV brothers ganged up against Merckx.Mistermaumau26-06-2025
- Seems like musical chairs, doubt any of them will perform better wherever they change to.Mistermaumau26-06-2025
- « also due to being the son of a former World Tour rider by the same name«Mistermaumau26-06-2025
- I'm exploring shorter cranks even in MTB because of limited hip mobility due to how my hips are. I haven't ridden them yet, but my experience with 170 over 175 is that 170 is a lot more comfortable in a low position. I bet that going even shorter is going to be really beneficial for me.JoshuaCharter26-06-2025
- According to Eurosport Italy Visma will be getting €50 million from Nike lol! Fred Wright to Q36.5?Suipedali26-06-2025
- Funny side that his namesake is fellow Spanish gregario Benjamin Noval somewhat a domestique for Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador days.
James2631826-06-2025
frankly I thought what Pogacar did in Stage 19 was bush league, He didn't need to do this
He had all the points he needed but he had to be a show off. Well good. It is too bad he is helping bring down cycling.
Sounds like you would have hated cycling during Eddie's time.....
Tissue?
Bring down cycling? He’s got flair and brings excitement to the sport. People watch to see him win. Also, he said himself he’d have been okay with Yates winning, because brother and team that hadn’t won, but with Jorgensen in the lead? no way. He was going to shut Visma down. And that is what rivalries and revenge look like, because he had obvious reasons for denying them a win.
tadeg was giving the middle finger to Visma!
Kudo's for that...no gifts !
He's certainly not going to win a popularity contest within the peloton. But Pogi will be Pogi.