"I can still win the Tour" - Jonas Vingegaard defiant on second rest day of 2025 Tour de France
Cycling
He might head into the second rest day of the 2025 Tour de France more than four minutes down on Tadej Pogacar, but that doesn't mean Jonas Vingegaard has given up hope of a third career Maillot Jaune victory.
"I can still win the Tour," stresses a defiant Dane in his rest day press conference for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. "I have to attack, and I will. I feel like I'm getting better every day. I remain hopeful because my level is much better than on the bad days. When you know that, you don't lose hope."
Whilst Pogacar and Vingegaard have been relatively evenly matched for the most part, a disastrous time trial in the opening week from Vingegaard and a destructive showing from Pogacar on Hautacam have seen clear separation between the pair.
"I never normally have those. We're still investigating the cause of these bad days, but so far we haven't found an answer," Vingegaard says, admitting the chances of Pogacar having a similarly bad day don't look likely. "He hasn't shown any weaknesses yet, otherwise I would have exploited them. He's the most complete rider."
Despite criticism from some quarters over their tactics in the race since Hautacam, Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann insists the team have a plan to help Vingegaard, albeit he admits they are now fighting on multiple fronts as riders go off in search of stage wins.
"You don't make up four minutes with an attack in the last 800 meters. There are still big mountain stages to come, so you only win the Tour in Paris," Niermann explains, addressing criticism of the team's tactics. "We've been here with several goals from the start. It was my decision to let Wout van Aert and Victor Campenaerts attack and not to bring everyone back for Jonas."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Love this guy. He is such a pure racer.mij07-11-2026
- Fair enough. Everyone’s entitled to one and I respect yours! Nothing wrong with being a one week and GT guy if that’s his vibemij07-11-2026
- LOL...it's a predetermined finish ! N one is 'clashing' at these exhibition crits!frieders307-11-2026
- Surely the UCI and the race organisers have a responsibility to ensure the best medical care is available to riders when incidents like this happen. All very well pushing for global expansion but not so good if riders lives are put at risk because medical support is not up to scratch.Andy12306-11-2026
- Well it clearly helps that this was Pidcock's own car, no?Occam06-11-2026
- The American performance at the World's road race was a masterclass in cycling tactics. If it wasn't McNulty, it might well have been Jorgensen or Simmons to take off and win in a solo break.Occam06-11-2026
- What a gimmick
Rafionain-Glas06-11-2026 - Thats only cause he rides for UAE. In any other team he would be captain in many races atleast. UAE is just to crazymiguel06-11-2026
- He seems to be the rare athlete whose passion and curiosity about life beyond his sport equals his extraordinary achievements in it. It would be great for him to risk less of that life. He seems very grateful and joyful for what he has already attained.
MarkFour06-11-2026 - As much as I admire and even revere Wout, the less I know about his backside the better.MidnightRider06-11-2026
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