“We’ve got a plan for that” – Richard Plugge insists Jonas Vingegaard can overturn 3:36 deficit to Tadej Pogacar and win 2026 Tour de France
CyclingFriday, 17 July 2026 at 13:08
Richard Plugge insists Team Visma | Lease a Bike still have a plan capable of putting Jonas Vingegaard back into the yellow jersey at the 2026 Tour de France, despite Tadej Pogacar carrying a 3:36 advantage into the second half of the race.
Pogacar has dominated the opening phase with three stage victories and repeatedly beaten Vingegaard when the general classification contenders have gone head-to-head. His Tourmalet victory delivered the largest blow, turning the Dane’s anticipated early losses into a deficit that Visma must now begin reducing quickly.
Plugge accepts that the gap is larger than the team wanted, but refuses to regard the Tour as decided. “Perhaps a bit more than we wanted,” the Visma CEO told De Telegraaf when assessing the time already conceded.
Visma expected Pogacar’s explosiveness to make the opening collection of shorter climbs and punchier finishes particularly difficult. Their belief before the Tour was that Vingegaard would become more dangerous once the race moved towards longer climbs, sustained mountain efforts and the accumulated fatigue of the final week. “We’re really looking forward to it,” Plugge said.
Visma still believe the race will come back towards Vingegaard
The 3:36 deficit leaves Visma with little margin for another defeat, but Plugge insists the team have not been forced away from the strategy prepared before the Grand Depart. “Everything’s fine,” he said. “We’ve got a plan for that.”
Plugge did not reveal what that plan involves, although Visma’s approach in previous Tours has generally relied on making mountain stages difficult over a prolonged period rather than waiting for one decisive acceleration. That requires collective strength around Vingegaard and opportunities to place Pogacar under pressure before the final climb.
There are already complications. Matteo Jorgenson, one of Vingegaard’s most important mountain support riders, has been isolated from the rest of the team after falling ill. Visma have said the American is improving, but his condition remains an important factor as the race reaches the terrain on which the team expect to launch their challenge.
Vingegaard has also taken precautions throughout the Tour, regularly wearing a face mask around crowded start and finish areas after illness disrupted his previous two appearances. Keeping the Dane healthy and restoring Jorgenson to full strength will be essential if Visma are to execute the collective race Plugge appears to have in mind.
Vingegaard trails Pogacar by 3:36 in the GC
A deficit too large for patience alone
Visma can no longer depend on bonus seconds or minor gains. Vingegaard needs to take substantial time from Pogacar, while avoiding further losses to a rider who has so far appeared stronger whenever the race has demanded an immediate response.
Pogacar’s lead also changes the tactical balance. UAE Team Emirates – XRG can defend from a position of strength, leaving Visma with the responsibility to create the difficult and unpredictable racing they need. “We’ll fight with everything we’ve got,” Plugge promised.
The challenge is not simply to attack Pogacar, but to find a form of racing in which Vingegaard can expose a weakness that has not yet appeared. The longer climbs and heavier mountain stages may provide that opportunity, but Visma must first ensure they reach them with enough collective strength to make their plan possible.
Plugge refuses to surrender yellow-jersey ambition
Visma’s public target remains victory rather than consolidation of second place. Plugge’s confidence rests on the belief that the opening half of the Tour favoured Pogacar and that the balance can still shift as the race becomes more attritional.
That conviction will soon face its clearest test. Vingegaard enters the decisive phase 3:36 behind, Jorgenson is working his way back from illness and Pogacar has given no sign that his form is beginning to fade.
Visma insist those circumstances have not invalidated their plan. They have, however, removed almost all room for it to fail.
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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- When I watch races, I don't want to see mediocrity, gifts, and whining. I just want the best man to win, and if Remco is the best that day and drops Pogačar, I have nothing against it. I just don't want gifts for mediocre cyclists, from a BS breakaway, let the best man win. Ad acta!!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales17-07-2026
- Maybe you've got a point here. They could infect him, or "innocently" crash him: "oops, I'm sorry, I didn't see you..."mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales17-07-2026
- Why write an article about jorgenson being sick AND NOT MENTION WHAT THE ILLNESS IS .. PRETTY PATHETIC REPORTINGcaptmike17-07-2026
- 🤡🤡U🤡🤡C🤡🤡I🤡🤡Lobz7717-07-2026
- > 2:00 minutes is enough to win a GT comfortably. i think he is waiting for a crashabstractengineer17-07-2026
- is his plan to keep an ill Matteo in the race to infect Tadej and bring him down that way?mij17-07-2026
- amenmij17-07-2026
- honestly I agree with you. I shed tears for this man Jonas getting paid millions to ride a bike. he has the ability to walk away and say there is so much more to life while he has his millions. meanwhile there is so much more to life than working in a factory, but factory workers have to continue to retirement in spite of perhaps wanting to finish early. I find Jonas so unlikable due to being ungrateful for the talent and blessings he has. instead he just complains of his burden of riding a toy for millions per year.mij17-07-2026
- This is where Pog buries the race.Renz17-07-2026
- You are such an ARSE Mus..#$%$%.. Stop being a clown! Just go to the Poggi Circle JerK Forum and satisfy yourself there!
Alexcavalera17-07-2026
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