“We have prepared our team tactics and, as always, I will not reveal them" Jonas Vingegaard declares Visma have a Tourmalet plan for Pogacar
CyclingThursday, 09 July 2026 at 13:14
Jonas Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike have hinted they have something cooking for stage 6 of the Tour de France. With the first real mountain test looking and featuring the iconic Col du Tourmalet, fans are expecting the first sorting of the general classification order.
And many expect it to be all about Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. The pair have been locked in a high mountains showdown for the last four editions, and could renew hostilities on Thursday. The word on everyone's lips: how can Visma neutralise and beat Pogacar when the road goes uphill.
With Col d'Aspin set to kick off hostilities, the Tourmalet lies next and tops off with 38.5 kilometers to go. A crucial battleground, its position makes it intriguing given the descent and uphill finish to follow.
How will Visma play the stage? Vingegaard refused to give anything away before the stage, although noting he feels good ahead of the stage.
“It will be a beautiful day, a tough one, but we are ready for what awaits us,” Vingegaard told Cycling Pro Net before the start of stage 6.
Campenaerts in early breakaway
Early pictures from the stage showed versatile rouleur Victor Campenaerts on the attack in an early breakaway attempt, signalling that he could be used as a potential satellite rider for Vingegaard - on front to assist him if he does attack later in the stage. Nonetheless, the Dane gave nothing away to media.
“We have prepared our team tactics and, as always, I will not reveal them before we leave…”
Overall, Vingegaard is happy with his placing and feelings at this point in the race, and hopes the good legs continue up the Tourmalet.
"I feel good. I've had a good start to this Tour, and I'm happy with my feelings and my current position in the general classification. So far, everything's been going well. Now let's hope we have good legs for today's stage."
UAE expect Vingegaard attack
For UAE, they're expecting Vingegaard to attack as manager Joxean Matxin declared their plan is to control the day's breakaway and keep vigilant.
“I think we’ll see an attack from Jonas Vingegaard there to whittle down the group. It’s going to be a crucial climb,” Matxín told In De Leiderstrui.
Read also
Pogacar's mood or feeling can cause the best laid-out plans to change drastically. But first for Matxin - make sure stage breakaway attackers are closely monitored and that no GC favourites gain an advantage.
“In principle, we can simply have our leader, Pogacar, follow the move. We have a plan every day, but it’s true that the plan isn't set in stone,” Matxín said.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- There are levels in sports and these levels are not fixed, sometimes someone is at level 5, sometimes 2, sometimes 8... but if you have an opponent who is at level 10 from February 2024 on, and you don't have a capacity to ever be at level 10, then what else do we have to talk about. PS: If you see Pogi all in white before the start, you can immediately place a bet... big € !!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales09-07-2026
- Yesterday I described how today's stage will go. Full control of UAE and no one from Visma, RedBull, Lidl and Decathlon on a breakaway. Anyone who thinks Pogi won't attack the Tourmalet hasn't been watching cycling for the last 3 years. Pogi-Baby Hulk is dressed in full white. Good luck to the rest of the peloton. Explanation: Baby Hulk is an extremely powerful Baby Hulk, being the 2nd son of the Savage Hulk-Bruce Banner. His real name is Tadej Pogačar Banner.mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales09-07-2026
- Jonas also wants to be an alien, just like Pogi... so he put on a mask :))mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales09-07-2026
- Molenaar crash highlights how riders need to know the road ahead via team radio. a warning not to move around too much when road narrows.abstractengineer09-07-2026
- So happy for Kooij! Was my favorite pic for the fast man, but i am really hoping MADS can finish with the Green Jersey on Montmatre (21 stage)!!Alexcavalera09-07-2026
- Funny but not funny. I'm actually pissed. Sorry but not sorry.
parisbound0009-07-2026 - I expect they have no jurisdiction over that, sorry. Maybe ask the police? Besides, that’s like stopping people from throwing drinks (even in football stadiums) hard to be in the right place before it takes place to do something about it. Now, if other members of the public had a bit more civic courage to have a word sometimes, maybe everyone would behave a little more in line.Jumpyjohn09-07-2026
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