"I was really on the limit" - Pogacar and Vingegaard take Mathieu van der Poel over the limit as Dutchman loses Dauphiné stage
CyclingMonday, 09 June 2025 at 09:27
Mathieu van der Poel fractured a bone in the wrist only a few weeks ago but has returned to competition today at the top of his game. However, his explosiveness was not a match to Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard who set out to make the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné as hard as possible.
“That climb was more difficult than expected, especially with the wind up there. It continued for quite a long time," van der Poel shared with Sporza in a post-race interview. The Dutchman immediately responded when Vingegaard launched an attack over the last climb of the day, and then collaborated with the group.
Perhaps because he was the strongest sprinter on paper he felt the pressure and spent too much time in the wind. He attacked just outside the final kilometer, and then again launched his sprint first into Montluçon. These ultimately cost him, and he settled for third behind the previous Tour de France winners.
“I am happy that I can ride to the finish line with those riders today. Losing is always a bit of a bummer, but I mainly try to take the positive with me," he admits after missing out on the victory." I was really on the limit. I noticed that I did not recover as well from the efforts as I am used to. I saw the peloton coming, so I had to start from far away. I did not have the legs to hold on, but I am satisfied with this final.”
However in the bigger picture, this is a terrific sign ahead of the Tour de France where he will be hunting stages and a possible stint in the yellow jersey. “Normally my legs recover a little faster. Of course I would have liked to win, but I think I can be satisfied above all. I would have signed for this in advance. I am very happy with what I had in my legs today. I was able to train well, but it is just the toughness that is missing.”
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🌈 EL ESPRINT DEL AÑO 2025 EN #Dauphiné 🌈
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) June 8, 2025
Tadej Pogacar bate a Jonas Vingegaard y Mathieu van der Poel en un final absolutamente disparatado para abrir el 'mini-Tour' francés
📺 Lo viviste en @Eurosport_ES 2️⃣ y @StreamMaxES #LaCasaDelCiclismo pic.twitter.com/CmzA7g7ajo
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- 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 - The title is wrong and caused me to be confused momentarily. It shouldn't be "Movistar compares...". It should be "Marc Soler compares...".
KerisVroom26-06-2025
Based on what we saw today the Tour is going to be a corker.
Totally!
JV sprinting well with no racing, RE catching up well with inspiration from Yates, MVDP climbing well with injury on MTB training, and Pog just being well, Pog, with a useless team. Hard to imagine a better scenario with all the upcoming talent coming to test them. Feel sorry for sprinters, they might only get side roles if it’s a GC battle from the go. But, let’s enjoy this week first and keep fingers crossed that for once there’ll be no major crashes.