Although the stage 16 individual time-trial at the 2023 Tour de France had long been viewed as a potentially key stage in the race, few would have expected quite such a difference between the two race favourites, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.
Vingegaard was absolutely dominant, powering his way to a first time-trial stage win in his Tour de France career and extending his lead over Pogacar from 10 seconds at the start of the day to a whopping 1:48 by the time he had crossed the line. Having never been renowned as a time-trial specialist, such a performance was out of even the Dane's wildest dream as he admitted afterwards.
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Jonas Vingegaard a dominant winner on stage 16 time-trial and takes firm grip of Tour de France
"I felt great today. I think it's the best time-trial I've ever ridden. Today I really surprised myself with this," said a delighted Jumbo-Visma leader post-stage. "To be honest, there were times when there was so much noise I couldn't hear what was being put on the radio. But the team management coached me well today. Thanks for that."
Despite the fact the lead is now almost two minutes and the pair having been almost inseparable so far, Vingegaard refuses to get ahead of himself. "I am very happy with the victory, my first time trial victory in the Tour de France," he says. "But no, there are still some tough stages to go, we are looking forward to that."
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