“Now it’s my turn to win the Tour de France” - Jonas Vingegaard with fighting talk as next chapter of epic Tadej Pogacar rivalry nears
Cycling
With Tadej Pogacar arriving off one of the most dominant Classics campaigns in recent memory, Jonas Vingegaard has delivered a rare statement of intent ahead of their next meeting at the Tour de France.
“It’s a good rivalry we’ve had, because it hasn’t just been one rider winning every year. We’ve taken turns a bit. Now he has won the last two years, so now it’s my turn to win this year. I believe that I will. I have a good feeling both about the race and my preparation. I think it will be our year this year,” he said in conversation with TV 2 Sport.
The timing of that statement is significant. In 2026, Pogacar has already won Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, before finishing second at Paris-Roubaix after losing a two-up sprint to Wout van Aert, Vingegaard’s own teammate. It is a run that has reinforced his position as the most versatile rider in the sport, adding to his back to back Tour de France victories.
Vingegaard’s preparation has followed a different path, but one that has delivered just as clearly within its own domain. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader has taken overall victories at Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya, claiming two stage wins in each race and establishing early season control in stage racing.
Giro ambition adds another layer
Before that Tour showdown, Vingegaard’s focus turns to the Giro d’Italia, where he will attempt to add a first victory to his palmarès. “I’ve had some good training and I’m in better shape. I’m starting to get close to the level I want to be at for the Giro d’Italia,” he said.
Asked about his expectations for the race, he added: “I go into it expecting that I can fight for the win, and the goal is to win the Giro.”
The Giro represents both a standalone objective and a shift in approach. Rather than building exclusively towards July, Vingegaard is targeting success across multiple Grand Tours in the same season, adding another layer to his Tour de France challenge.
Vingegaard won the Volta a Catalunya earlier this year
Different paths, same destination
The contrast between the two rivals is defined by what they have already done in 2026. Pogacar has won three Monuments across completely different race profiles and came within a sprint of adding Paris-Roubaix. Vingegaard, meanwhile, has dominated week-long stage races, building decisive gaps and controlling the general classification from early in the race. Those paths now converge once again at the Tour de France.
For Vingegaard, the claim that “it’s my turn” carries unusual weight. It is not language he typically uses, and it comes at a moment when his rival’s level appears higher than ever.
Whether that confidence translates into a third Tour de France title will define the next chapter of a rivalry that continues to shape the sport.
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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- Sepp Kuss Vuelta 2023.Lozza13-11-2026
- they have no expertise with classics, they have no leaders in classics. the classics is dominated by the few Fuori Classe riders where other riders are left with scraps. the Hiring , the salaries dont make sense at all. Same problem as Man Utd. over paid players, egos, very little performanceabstractengineer13-11-2026
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