Jonas Vingegaard & Tadej Pogacar on different levels in 2025 says Danish icon: "Visma need to realise that"
Cycling
The rivalry between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard is one that has defined the modern era of the Tour de France. Ahead of the 2025 edition though, Vingegaard has a real point to prove, especially considering the all-conquering dominance Pogacar has displayed over the last two seasons.
Starting this Sunday, the pair will go head to head once again in a pre-Tour de France warm up as they face off at the 2025 Critierium du Dauphine. According to Danish cycling icon Bjarne Riis, this could be a real test of where Vingegaard stands in relation to his great rival. “There’s no doubt Dauphiné gives a strong indication,” Riis analyses for BT.dk. "But it’s not decisive — we don’t know how each of them has prepared, or whether they’re racing at 100%.”
There's no doubt in Riis' mind though, that if Vingegaard is to reclaim the Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France later this summer, he'll need to put in a career best performance to do so. “Jonas was strong when he won the Tour in 2023,” he explains. “But that’s not enough to beat the Pogacar we’re seeing today. He’s on a whole different level now, and Visma need to realise that. Pogacar has developed tremendously.”
“I have no doubt Jonas will ride well — but whether he’s progressed enough compared to where Pogacar was two years ago, that’s the real question," the Dane continues. "The two haven’t truly clashed since, not with both at their peak.”
Even last year, where some of Vingegaard's numbers were at their all time best, won't be good enough if he can't sustain them over the course of three weeks - as Riis explains. “Last year, Pogacar only had to defend — he was never really under pressure,” notes the 61-year-old. “Only on the day Jonas won his stage — and even then, Pogacar was off the front, made a mistake, and still didn’t lose time.”
As such, a lot rides on a positive Dauphine for Vingegaard, in order to build up some form and momentum. “I’m curious to see how much muscle Jonas has regained — and how lean he is,” Riis says. “It’s one thing to climb well, but he also needs strong musculature. That only comes with training and serious effort.”
“Pogacar’s acceleration has improved massively, and that could be the key factor if they’re evenly matched. If Jonas can’t match his kick, Pogacar could easily grab 10 seconds here, 20 seconds there," concludes the 1996 Tour de France winner. "In the time trials, I think they’re pretty even — assuming Jonas has a good day.”
🇫🇷 #Dauphiné
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) June 8, 2025
Hej, Jonas! 😊 pic.twitter.com/0HAODmlv7k
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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