All our guys safe after a hectic finale to stage 3 of #TDF2024 . @TamauPogi heads into tomorrow‘s big mountain test in second place overall. #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE
"We really thought that Pogacar could crush the Tour de France and we finally saw a Vingegaard rather at ease" - Cédric Vasseur
CyclingTuesday, 02 July 2024 at 11:45
Cofidis manager Cédric Vassuer has provided his opinion on the ongoing battle for the Tour de France win, which is expected to see another round today on the Col du Galibier. The French manager believes that UAE Team Emirates will be disappointed after not being able to make the difference on stage 2 where Tadej Pogacar was unable to drop Jonas Vingegaard at the Madonna di San Luca.
"I hope that the Tour will not be over tomorrow evening, but from what we saw yesterday (stage 2, ed.), I think that Pogacar and Vingegaard will have a hard time separating themselves during this 4th stage," Vasseur said in words to Cyclism'Actu. "In my opinion, we will have to wait for the accumulation of fatigue to see differences being created". That may not be today, as we feature a short 138-kilometer stage without a truly steep ascent, but instead long and consistent efforts where slipstreaming will make a lot of difference.
In San Luca where the gradients were very high and attacks could make quite a difference, Pogacar attacked the race as expected but Vingegaard responded promptly and surprised the competition by showing his best level right from the get go of the race.
"They must have been disappointed yesterday evening on the UAE side, because we really thought that Pogacar could crush the Tour de France and we finally saw a Vingegaard rather at ease and who was not in difficulty on Pogacar's attack," Vassuer added. "UAE and Pogacar must ask themselves questions and Tuesday could provide answers". Will UAE attack this Tuesday? It seems unlikely that the team will use it's depth to try and attack from afar on a day that is not too hard to control; whilst the Galibier itself will feature a long headwind section before it's final kilometers.
It's fully possible that towards the summit there will be moves, specially as bonifications are deployed at the summit of the 2627-meter high mountain. Gradients of over 10% are featured in the final kilometer, before the downhill finale into Valloire where differences can be expanded on. Vasseur also comments on his own team's start to the race, in which Guillaume Martin - ninth last year - is lively in the GC fight after a strong opening weekend to the race.
"Before the Tour, it wasn't really the idea to be so well placed in the general classification for Guillaume [Martin], but it proves that he is in good shape and that he has passed the first three stages without any problems," Vasseur says. "Now, there will be an explanation tomorrow (this Tuesday, ed.) between the riders in the general classification, with the Lautaret and especially the terrible Galibier, and we can hope that Guillaume can continue on his momentum. We will take stock tomorrow evening and we will decide according to the circumstances".
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