Jonas Vingegaard happy but cautious after thrilling Marie Blanque attack: "I do know that Tadej never gives up. It will be a battle all the way to Paris"

Jonas Vingegaard rode conservatively in the opening two stages of the Tour de France, but today he put on a climbing show at the Col de Marie Blanque. The reigning champion did not move into the yellow jersey, however he has taken over a minute on the road to Tadej Pogacar.

“Early in the stage we wanted someone in the leading group, but that became three. That was even better. They did a great job. We didn't have to ride in the peloton ourselves, that was good too," Vingegaard said in a flash interview. Jumbo-Visma had Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte, ultimately a trio which did not prove to be helpful for the team's tactics, but Jumbo-Visma needed to hit the front only once to make a difference on the day.

“On the last climb I felt good. I told Sepp Kuss to go and turn it on. And then I placed my attack," he describes. Simple and effective, on the steep Col de Marie Blanque the work of the American dropped everyone but Vingegaard and Pogacar, but there was no response when Pogacar attacked with around one kilometer to the summit. He quickly gained a very big gap on the Slovenian, which then extended in the descent.

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Pogacar in the meantime couldn't hold the pace and waited for the chasing group, which despite having numbers, arrived 1:04 minutes behind the Dane. "I didn't know that then. I felt good and at such a moment I only look at myself. Then I try to attack. How does this come to them? That should ask them. But I do know that Tadej never gives up. It will be a battle all the way to Paris.”

Jai Hindley won the stage and jumped into the yellow jersey, becoming a serious rival for Jumbo-Visma. However Vingegaard maintains his focus on Pogacar, who attacked in the opening days, and continues to have in mind the Tour de France win. The difference now between them is 53 seconds in favour of the Dutch team's leader, who is now second in the GC 47 seconds behind Hindley.

"I'm super happy with those 53 seconds, that's very nice. We should definitely look at Jai Hindley. During the ride we also thought about chasing because he was with us, but we decided not to. But we definitely have to keep an eye on Jai," he concluded.