Vingegaard not Pogacar the favourite for 2025 Tour de France says Jerome Pineau: "He will be more than ready for the challenge come July"

Cycling
Thursday, 19 June 2025 at 22:10
jonasvingegaard 2
It's fair to say, that after a dominant performance at the recent Criterium du Dauphiné, defending Maillot Jaune Tadej Pogacar heads to the Tour de France in 2025 as the man to beat once again in the eyes of most fans and experts. For French former Giro d'Italia stage winner Jerome Pineau, however, it is Jonas Vingegaard who is firmly the pre-Grand Tour favourite.
"I firmly believe it," Pineau begins in conversation with the Grand Plateau podcast, impressed by the level shown from Vingegaard at the Dauphine, despite the Dane's ultimate defeat by Pogacar in the high mountains. "He’s coming off a long training block, and I think he’s in astonishing form, considering everything he’s been through."
Pineau also looks towards the 2024 Tour de France as evidence to back up his claim, suggesting the performance of Vingegaard twelve months ago after so little preparation bodes well for this year, given he has had time to prepare properly. "I thought he was outstanding last year when he finished second," says Pineau firmly. "He never gave up. He was far behind Pogacar after a serious crash, yet he kept fighting."
And so, despite finishing almost a minute down on Pogacar at the Dauphine, Vingegaard remains the man to beat according to the French ex-pro. "I have him down as the Tour winner because he showed some impressive signs this week — especially in the time trial, where he took 30 seconds out of Pogacar," he explains. "I believe he’ll make huge strides and will be more than ready for the challenge come July."
"Pogacar will go chasing seconds in the first week because he enjoys racing aggressively, whereas Vingegaard is more calculated," Pineau concludes. "And in this Tour, you’ll need to be strategic due to the way the race is structured. You can’t waste too much energy early on — you have to be strong in the final week."
claps 12visitors 11
5 Comments
slappers66 22 June 2025 at 19:46+ 412

No question Jonas will be ready... Tadej just might be that wee bit readier... as Maria20242024 says... say something utterly ridiculous you'll get pundit status. I also sense an increasing number of recently retired Pro's who are just plan jealous of what Tadej is achieving.. I might be too in their position but it's just disrespectful, they should respect just what these guys are delivering for the sport but you can't force folk

User Avatar
maria20242024 22 June 2025 at 19:46+ 1314

EX PRO RULE: To get hired as a pundit, say something grandiloquently out of the ordinary.
PS: I also believe that Jonas will be in perfect conditions for the tour, at the level of Tadej, but saying that he is "THE" CLEAR favorite is a simple counter-current to get attention.

Renz 22 June 2025 at 19:46+ 241

Just LOL. This proves anyone can get paid to be a pundit.

mij 19 June 2025 at 20:33+ 1101

tadej likes chasing seconds? what was jonas doing with his attack on day 1 of the dauphiné.

awp 22 June 2025 at 19:46+ 1562

I think he'll be better than he is today at the Tour, but Tadej will be better than he is today as well. It's obvious it's going to be tough for Jonas to exceed Tadej at the Tour, before the Dauphine I could agree, not now.

Just in

Popular news

Latest comments