“We can look back on this first block positively” – Visma keep faith in Jonas Vingegaard despite 2:42 Tour de France deficit to Tadej Pogacar
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have refused to view the opening nine stages of the 2026 Tour de France through the damage inflicted by Tadej Pogacar alone, insisting Jonas Vingegaard reached the first rest day looking fresh and with the team still confident in its position.
Vingegaard sits second overall at 2:42 after losing significant time to Pogacar on the Col du Tourmalet, but safely negotiated the scorching and relentlessly raced Stage 9 to Ussel alongside several teammates.
“Although we have had a tough first week with the weather conditions, we can look back on this first block positively,” Visma sports director Marc Reef said in the team’s post-stage 9 press release. “After the rest day, we will continue with confidence.”
Visma protect Vingegaard through chaotic Stage 9
The ninth stage was shortened from 185.5 to 155.5 kilometres after Correze was placed under a red heatwave alert. Temperatures reached approximately 37°C, while repeated attacks contributed to an opening phase raced at around 45km/h.
Matteo Jorgenson attempted several times to enter the breakaway but was unable to gain freedom. A 16-rider group eventually escaped before further attacks produced the decisive eight-man move containing Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, Tobias Halland Johannessen and Alex Baudin.
UAE Team Emirates – XRG controlled the gap for much of the afternoon, reducing the peloton to fewer than 40 riders across approximately 2,800 metres of climbing. Vingegaard remained alongside Davide Piganzoli and Sepp Kuss as Visma concentrated on bringing its leader through the final stage before the rest day.
“Jonas came through today’s stage well,” Reef said. “Despite the tough race and the hot conditions, he still looked quite fresh. The same applied to the other riders. The pace was high from start to finish. UAE Team Emirates kept control for a long time after the breakaway had gone clear. We were always there with Jonas, who was well protected by his teammates.”
Van der Poel ultimately won from the breakaway, while Vingegaard crossed safely in the reduced peloton without conceding further time to Pogacar.
Jonas Vingegaard ahead of Stage 9 at the 2026 Tour de France
Visma face commanding Pogacar advantage
The opening block has nevertheless left Visma with a sizeable deficit to overturn. Pogacar enters the rest day in the Maillot Jaune with Vingegaard 2:42 behind, while UAE teammate Isaac del Toro sits third at 3:27.
Vingegaard remains the closest challenger after nine stages, with Remco Evenepoel fourth at 3:30 and Juan Ayuso fifth at 3:34. His position ensures the Tour remains centred upon another direct contest with Pogacar, although the scale of the gap has already shifted the pressure onto Visma.
Visma therefore reached the rest day with Vingegaard securely established as Pogacar’s nearest rival and key climbing support still positioned around him, but with almost three minutes separating their leader from the yellow jersey.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- lol yeah. this is a good onemij12-11-2026
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- he's too young. he's 23, so not really a fair call yet.mij12-11-2026
- and don't forget Pidcock's departure. maybe he will never win a GT, but he knows how to light up a race.mij12-11-2026
- Bingo...I was going to say a 12 year obsessed Pogi fan girlie ! Like she's chasing a teen boy band! All glossy eyed about tadej!frieders312-11-2026
- That stint in the Pink was so good. If memory serves he struggled with the champagne cuz he'd never been on the podium before. I feel like it gave him some self-belief, and yeah - then the move to Visma to be one of their lieutenants has really brought him to the best version of himself.wrsty12-11-2026
- So, you never really compared Paul Seixas with his main rival Isaac Del Toro why jump to Pogačar? They've (Paul & Isaac) raced together here and there, and they've both shared in wins and losses, I think they should be compared to each other, even with Vingegaard and Remco first before even touching Pogačar. From your writing it's like he's better than Vingegaard, Remco and Del Toro already that his main target is now Pogačar 🤔Sadick11-11-2026
- gee i hope its a minor injury. a great rider and ambassador for the sport. get well soon Lucinda.
Davide11-11-2026 - some of lidl-treks retention and recruiting has been puzzling in the mens and womens teams.Davide11-11-2026
- Yeah his ride at World's was unreal. Over 6 W/kg for over an hour and a half...he single handedly destroyed the break.DAS11-11-2026
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