“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

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.

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.

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.