"The truth is that four minutes is difficult to make up" - How much do Visma still believe in Tour de France win?

The Tour de France has been set on fire these past few days as the riders entered the Pyrenees and huge differences have been created. Jonas Vingegaard put up a significantly stronger fight against Tadej Pogacar in the Peyragudes time-trial but the gap between the two is now already of 4:07 minutes and that will in any circumstance be hard to close.

"It was a good time trial from Jonas. We're happy with his performance. He's overtaking Remco Evenepoel and gaining a lot of time on others, only Tadej is better," DS Grischa Niermann said in an interview with Wielerflits following the time-trial.

It's difficult to compete against the World Champion in his terrain, but Vingegaard, not cracking unlike the day before in Hautacam, managed to only cross the finish line with an extra 36 seconds. Mentally, a positive outlook after very difficult day. 

But within Visma there is a lot of positivity over the rider. "Especially the last 10 kilometers. That can happen, but it wasn't the plan. It doesn't change the fact that Tadej was head and shoulders above the rest yesterday. A less than stellar day magnifies that, but it didn't prevent Jonas from winning."

The team will continue to search a potential win, but the German is at the same time honest about the chances of succeeding in this mission. "Jonas can still improve. His level today is already better than yesterday. We'll remain competitive, because Jonas is now second in this Tour behind the best rider of all time. That's it for now. We keep believing and dreaming, we won't give up. But the truth is that four minutes is difficult to make up."

Stage 14 of the race will see the riders go up four long passes before a very hard summit finish in Superbagnères where there should be more big differences opened up.