"That's where Jonas can make the difference" - Sepp Kuss thinks Vingegaard can gain edge over Pogacar in second week
Cycling
The Tour de France 2025 has not yet reached the high mountains. After 8 stages contested, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard have barely been able to test themselves. So far, their fight has been more psychological except for the first time trial.
Although the Slovenian has started the race better, with two stage wins, leading and more than 1 minute ahead of Vingegaard, the Dane still has some aces up his sleeve. At least that's what his Visma | Lease a Bike teammate Sepp Kuss seems to think.
The American is one of Vingegaard's luxury teammates in this Tour de France. But, as mentioned, none of them have come into play yet. Since there have been no high mountains, Jonas can't be said to be losing the race.
"This is a three-week race. It's very different from what we saw in the Dauphiné. The Alps will be a test of endurance, and that's where Jonas can make the difference. If there is a rider stronger than him, then those strategies are not so important, but we also have to take advantage of the strength of the team," said Kuss in words picked up by In De Leiderstrui.
The American remarked that the moment of truth has not yet arrived. Not even for him, who knows that he will have the focus on his head in the high mountains:
"My main task is in the mountains. In the first stages, it's difficult for me to stay in the lead. My work there was more discreet, advancing as much as I could," added Sepp Kuss.
The first day of the real Tour
For Visma and UAE, the real battle begins this coming Monday. There will be no rest day due to France's national holiday (Bastille Day). Instead, they will face the first big mountain stage, where Pogacar and Vingegaard will really go head to head.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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