Despite having more than three minutes lead and a third Maillot Jaune win looking locked up barring any incident or injury,
Tadej Pogacar was expected to be slightly more defensive in the final week. This was somewhat unsurprisingly not the case though on stage 17.
The Maillot Jaune spotted main rival
Jonas Vingegaard was isolated on the penultimate climb of the day and launched a brutal attack. Although the Dane initially looked as if he would be able the follow, the
Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader was quickly caught and passed by Remco Evenepoel with Vingegaard left shaking his head. On the descent however, thanks in part to Vingegaard picking up teammate Christophe Laporte, both Evenepoel and Pogacar were reeled back in by the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader, although the Slovenian did gain 2 seconds on Vingegaard in the sprint for the line.
In his post-stage interview Pogacar admitted "Sometimes I don't know why I attack." Former Giro d'Italia winner turned expert analyst
Tom Dumoulin however, thinks he might have come up with the answer to the
UAE Team Emirates leader's constant attacking at the 2024
Tour de France.
"I expected Team Visma | Lease a Bike to attack, but they kept calm. I suspected then that Vingegaard would not be that strong," the Dutchman analyses in conversation to SuperDévoluy. "Pogacar probably thought then: well, I'll do it now. That was pure display of power. He doesn't have to do that at all. It's pure teasing from Vingegaard. It does have a little bit to do with arrogance."
"That duel has been going on for three years now. Pogacar can't handle the fact that he has been defeated for two years in a row," continues Dumoulin. "And finally he is the boss again and he has the legs to hurt Vingegaard and then he thinks: then you will get it back!"
I think it's just Tadej being an impulsive attacker. He's been like that. He even "sprinted" to the finish line on the previous stage with his teammate just for fun.
It is just FUN, for Tadej and for us.
Bit of both of arrogance and a psychological blow but once the stage win is out, he should not have
Tom, are you still scarred with the poop in Giro? It must’ve gotten into your head. Leave the racing alone to Tadej and concentrate on your stomach business. You’re still full of crap and it’s coming out of your mouth!
Tom, are you still scarred with the poop in Giro? It must’ve gotten into your head. Leave the racing alone to Tadej and concentrate on your stomach business. You’re still full of crap and it’s coming out of your mouth
Enough with the psychoanalysis. Maybe he just likes racing?
Not sure if it's arrogance or wanting to inflict a lasting psychological blow.
both
A little bit?