Jonas Vingegaard expects "man against man" with Pogacar in the Pyrenees

Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar are currently on an intense duel at the Tour de France for the yellow jersey, and heading into the final week both have said exactly what they expect from the coming days.

“Obviously it's never good to lose two such riders, but we still have a strong team. We're just going to do our best and then we'll see where we end up," Vingegaard told NOS regarding the abandon of Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswijk before the final rest day of the race. Jumbo-Visma will head into the final week of the day with five teammates, however with full commitment behind him.

The Dane expects attacks from Tadej Pogacar who's sitting in second position: “They will certainly try again, but in the final it will be man against man. We have already seen that on the Col du Granon and Alpe d'Huez," he said. "Although we also saw then that you can do something as a team. I expect a lot of attacks, soon in the Pyrenees. It will also get hot again. It will be exhausting stages.”

Vingegaard finished second last year however at the level of the Slovenian in the high mountains of the final two weeks. He's looking to repeat that performance, however this time on the other side of the spectrum. "...I am still quite relaxed. There is more to it, but I was prepared for it. I actually expected it to be worse.”

“I thought that as a jersey wearer you would only arrive at the hotel two to three hours later every day, but that is not the case,” he added. “I think it's especially beautiful to wear the yellow jersey."

Ambitions are high, however Vingegaard, modest as ever, is prepared for every scenario: "If I win, I win. And if I don't win, then so be it".