“We have become much friendlier over the past couple of years” – Jonas Vingegaard reveals Tadej Pogacar sent private message after Tour de France crash
CyclingFriday, 31 July 2026 at 11:30
Jonas Vingegaard has revealed that Tadej Pogacar sent him a private message after the crash that ended his 2026 Tour de France, with the Dane admitting that their relationship has changed considerably in recent years.
Pogacar had already responded publicly after Vingegaard fractured his collarbone on stage 15, but also contacted the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader directly following his withdrawal.
“He sent me a message,” Vingegaard told Danish media in Glyngore during the Tour of Denmark. “I was really pleased about that. I’m just happy that he was thinking of me, and I think it’s great how the rivalry between us has developed.”
Private message followed Tour-ending crash
Vingegaard crashed at a roundabout with approximately 20 kilometres remaining on the road to Plateau de Solaison. He had started the day second overall, 4:30 behind Pogacar, with Visma preparing to attack on the final climb before their plans were brought to an abrupt end.
The injury required surgery and denied the pair another direct confrontation across the final week of the Tour. Pogacar’s private message came after years in which the two riders had shared almost every major battle for the yellow jersey.
Pogacar and Vingegaard have been the central figures in every Tour de France since 2021, sharing the last six editions between them. Pogacar defeated Vingegaard in 2021 before the Dane turned the rivalry around with consecutive victories in 2022 and 2023. The UAE Team Emirates – XRG leader regained the yellow jersey in 2024 and has now won three Tours in succession, with Vingegaard’s crash ending their latest contest prematurely.
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar ride alongside each other at the 2026 Tour de France
Rivalry has changed since first Tour battles
Their exchanges away from racing were once more restrained. “At the beginning it was perhaps a little more, not hostile, but not especially friendly either,” Vingegaard said. “We have become much friendlier over the past couple of years. I think that’s really nice. Sometimes we have a good chat, which I enjoy.”
Visma and UAE have repeatedly shaped their Grand Tour programmes around finding an advantage over the other, while Pogacar and Vingegaard have routinely distanced the rest of the Tour field.
Serious injuries have also interrupted both sides of the rivalry. Vingegaard missed much of the build-up to the 2024 Tour after his heavy crash at the Tour of the Basque Country, while Pogacar fractured his wrist during the spring of 2023.
Both recovered in time to challenge for yellow. Pogacar finished second to Vingegaard in 2023, before reversing the result a year later after the Dane’s shortened preparation.
Their rivalry began when Vingegaard emerged as Pogacar’s closest challenger in 2021. Six Tours later, the pair have won every edition between them and remain the two riders around whom the race is built.
Vingegaard still believes he can beat Pogacar
Speaking in Glyngore, Vingegaard made clear that he still believes he can win another Tour de France. He also said it would surprise him greatly if he did not return to the race, despite Pogacar now holding four victories from their six Tour encounters.
Vingegaard has not yet returned to training and no decision has been made over whether he will race again in 2026. The World Championships in Montreal remain possible, but the Dane is reluctant to repeat the rushed rehabilitation that followed his Basque Country crash two years ago. “I also learned something from when I crashed two years ago,” he said. “I don’t want to force it, because it takes a lot to come back.”
Vingegaard can now use the injured arm, although he admitted it has not yet returned to full strength. He also stressed that he would have taken a break at this point of the season even without the crash, having already won the Giro d’Italia and raced through the first two weeks of the Tour.
Pogacar’s latest Tour victory has moved the Slovenian further ahead in their head-to-head record, but Vingegaard still intends to return and challenge him again.
Their relationship may be friendlier away from racing, but another fight for the yellow jersey remains firmly in Vingegaard’s plans.
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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- I'm a fan and hurts me to have to say - this is just plain stupid of both him and the team! “We may have misunderstood the Tour a bit this year,” Vingegaard said following his withdrawal. “We made me better on the longer climbs. But it could well be that we should have realised I needed to be a bit more explosive and look more closely at the route.''Cyclingsbestfan31-07-2026
- LOL passing men is no significant achievement for elite female cyclists unless they are actually pros
Rafionain-Glas31-07-2026 - Visma's Vuelta gifting was certainly complicated, with JV having almost wiped out Kuss's lead before a public outcry led to Visma's decision to hold back. But Jonas seemed fine with letting almost victory go.Hills3331-07-2026
- I can read, and am responding to another comment or, dumbdevilCrashjames31-07-2026
- imo the pogs gifting is way obvious... Visma riders obeyed team orders even though Kuss deserved his victory with Roglic having a sook.
Davide31-07-2026 - yup.OCexile31-07-2026
- I'm one of those who really hopes Pog is clean, as he has real (and entertaining) skills like attacking at just the right moment to beat Carapaz and Martinez on Alpe d'Huez, taking just the right line to pull away on the descent on Stage 6, crashing in such a way that he can carry on and win, or avoiding crashing over a bidon. For me, the real moment of temptation to boost performance in some way would surely be when a rider is feeling desperate (whether to win again or simply not crack); and we might not be aware of such an inner struggle.Hills3331-07-2026
- So many reasons but let’s be nice and just say, the system preys on the naïve and usually once you realise something is up you’re already compromised so unlikely to shout it out. C’mon, how much did you know about how the world REALLY functions as a teen? Oh and lest we forget, you’re whole entourage (with more knowledge and experience) is rewarded how? Usually commissions, so what interest to protect you ethically as long as everyone plays the game?Jumpyjohn31-07-2026
- Since over 30 years cycling has talked about little else. Maybe that didn’t reach your birthplace at the time and as you left when the brown stuff hit the fan there…Jumpyjohn31-07-2026
- Didn't enjoy it anymore, always will be 2nd behind tadejZamorano31-07-2026
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