"Jonas Vingegaard has already thrown in the towel" – Expert claims Visma have admitted defeat in fight against Tadej Pogacar's dominance

As Tadej Pogacar continues to redefine the limits of dominance in professional cycling, cracks are beginning to show among his rivals — none more so than Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time Tour de France winner. According to respected Belgian analyst Jose De Cauwer, even the Team Visma | Lease a Bike camp — the Slovenian’s fiercest adversaries — may be conceding defeat.

"Look at Vingegaard. I get the feeling he’s already thrown in the towel," De Cauwer told Sporza. "At Visma, they seem to have come to terms with the idea that they might need to pursue other goals."

It’s a bold claim, but one not without substance. Pogacar has just completed a staggering 2025 season, winning his final four consecutive races — each time by soloing to victory with apparent ease. At the European Championships in France, he attacked with 75 kilometres still to ride and was never seen again. His performances have not only thrilled fans, but left rivals visibly demoralised.

Remco Evenepoel, despite finishing second to Pogacar on three separate occasions in recent months, remains one of the few contenders still talking openly about trying to bridge the gap. His move to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe this winter is seen as an effort to do just that. But elsewhere in the peloton, De Cauwer sees only quiet acceptance. “There’s no one else who can come to me and say, ‘We’ve figured it out – here’s how we’ll beat him.’ Because they haven’t,” he said.

Nowhere is this shift more apparent than in Vingegaard’s own recalibration of goals. After going toe-to-toe with Pogacar in the Grand Tours for half a decade, the Dane could be pivoting in 2026. Reports suggest he is eyeing a debut at the Giro d’Italia, hinting that the Tour de France battle with Pogacar might become a secondary goal.

It's a pragmatic move, perhaps even a wise one, but it also marks a symbolic moment. The man who once broke Pogacar in the high Alps is now seemingly keen to try and take what success he can away from the Slovenian's shadow.

Pogacar’s supremacy is not just about raw power or panache — though he has both in spades. It’s the consistency, the predictability, and the sheer psychological pressure he applies to his rivals. Attacking from 75km out isn’t just a tactical decision; it’s a statement. One that leaves teams scrambling for answers, and often left with none.

The question now is whether anyone in the peloton — Evenepoel, Vingegaard, or a yet-unknown challenger — can force Pogacar to race on someone else’s terms. Until then, cycling is living in the age of Pogacar. And as De Cauwer’s comments suggest, even the strongest challengers may already be turning the page.