"If he has to spend three months in a 15-square-meter room, he'll do it" - Vingegaard can rise to Pogacar's Tour de France level as Contador weighs in
CyclingFriday, 03 July 2026 at 10:18
Tadej Pogacar is the clear favourite to win the 2026 Tour de France, but according to Alberto Contador, Jonas Vingegaard can be right with him all the way to Paris in the race for the yellow jersey.
The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider is aiming to win his fifth Tour title, enjoying a stellar 2026 season with three monument wins and dominant displays in the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse put the peloton on notice ahead of July 4th's Grand Depart.
Kicking off with a team time trial, Pogacar has a chance to ride straight into the yellow jersey. But he faces a general classification field buoyed by leading contenders enjoying strong preparation for the Grand Boucle. Among the chasing pack, Vingegaard comes as Giro d'Italia champion.
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Pogacar put the Tour de Suisse to bed early in the first stage, but former winner Contador doesn't think Pogacar will have it all his way in his first attacks this weekend.
"In Switzerland, he went solo, unintentionally. It's also true that some riders weren't quite on his wheel. If Tadej wants to do that in the Tour, I know Vingegaard will be right there with him," Contador told Marca.
Contador believes Vingegaard will be there when Pogacar attacks
The Spanish rider warned that for Vingegaard, it's crucial to latch onto his wheel from the off and not allow him a gap. Noting other challengers like Paul Seixas, Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel, he sees a more complicated task to seal a yellow jersey.
He continued: "It's another matter if Pogacar is stronger and drops him, but Vingegaard would already be there. You can't let Pogacar attack and then have to close the gap. In Switzerland, his superiority was impressive.
"I don't think he'll have that same advantage here because there are riders of another level. He has Vingegaard, Seixas, Lipowitz, who is very strong on long climbs, Remco, Ayuso… This year in the Tour, it's going to be a bit more complicated for him. The important thing for Pogacar will be not to make any mistakes."
Contador sees a sharp Vingegaard, but notes that all the rules don't apply to Pogacar when it comes to the high mountains. However, it's exactly that Alpine or Pyrenean playground that Vingegaard could have his number.
"Theory tells us that Vingegaard, due to his weight and physique, is more of a climber than Pogacar. But Pogacar can go just as fast, or even faster, because of his engine. When you're less of a climber and rely more on engine power, it seems like that engine is working harder than that of a pure climber."
He added: "But Pogacar breaks all the rules and all the theories. He can beat you on any terrain. The race will tell us how he really performs. But if there's one place where Vingegaard can push Pogacar a bit harder, I think it's in the high mountains."
Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard
Pogacar "breaks all the rules"
In previous editions that saw Vingegaard put Pogacar to the sword, it's been his Visma | Lease a Bike team that have made a difference. But with diminished resources and the absence of Wout van Aert, who infamously pulled Vingegaard away from the Slovenian in 2022, Vingegaard needs a different approach.
"He had Van Aert, who climbed, descended, pushed hard, did everything. He doesn't have that anymore. Undoubtedly, that's a very important factor in winning the Tour. That's why I think Vingegaard's strategy has to focus on the final stages."
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While UAE boss Joxean Matxin cast doubt on the mental burden a Giro participation could take on the Dane, Contador believes "champion" Vingegaard would spent months in isolation if he had to prepare to take on Pogacar.
"He's a champion who wants to win. If he has to spend three months in a 15-square-meter room, he'll do it because he wants to win. For a champion, that's not a problem at all."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- My username is a play on his. Perhaps, it's also time for me to move on from cycling news.
KerisVroom03-07-2026 - Can't blame him for hanging on. Those sweet, sweet $$$ are too enticing.KerisVroom03-07-2026
- What a slightly ignominious finish for a rider so dominant. He should've either seen the writing on the wall, or had someone in his inner circle with the guts to tell him - but then again, he was on a massive contract so who would turn down millions? At least he's finally acknowledged it. Leaving it hanging was deeply awkward and weird.antipodeanpedalfan03-07-2026
- Vino should use Horner's tactics: relocate to an obscure hotel at the last minute so doping controls can't find him to test. Then dope to the gills and go on to win the hardest mountain stage and the overall.Santiago03-07-2026
- Well knock me down with a feather!Lozza02-07-2026
- Go Pogi! ❤️Lozza02-07-2026
- I’ve always wondered if Chris Froome doped. He looked superhuman in some of his TdF races. But the new man on the throne is even better. The new Terminator !! I’m ready to be amazed at this year’s TdF again.
PogiFan2Day02-07-2026 - the king of mue'swhkman02-07-2026
- Horner is the greatest advisor no team wants to have.🤣abstractengineer02-07-2026
- If he suddenly becomes better after changing his coach, he will probably kick himself for not having changed teams in 2022abstractengineer02-07-2026
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