Visma Lease-abike’s Jonas Vingegaard started his fightback against UAE rider Tadej Pogacar on the toughest stage of the 2024 Tour de France so far, narrowly beating the leader to take the stage win.
The Le Lioran stage is considered by many to be the most testing stage of the Tour de France and in a thrilling finale, Pogacar, Vingegaard, Puri The big four of Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel battle it out on some of the steepest and most rugged roads in the Central Plateau.
The four Grand Tour champions lived up to their expectations in the pre-race stages, with Pogacar betting on a long attack, Vengergaard bluffing and Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe Roglic on the wet hairpin. Crash, Soudal Rapid – Step leader Evenepoel tried to limit his losses.
The stage victory for the reigning Tour de France champion was both a psychological blow and a sporting success after Vengergaard suffered a serious crash in the Basque country of Isauria in April. The start was also low-key.
Pogacar launched his attack in typically swashbuckling style, 31.6 kilometers from the finish and 600 meters from the top of Puy Mary, with only Vengergaard and Roglic following after a moment’s hesitation. But the Slovenian athlete once again failed to deliver a fatal blow. After 20 kilometers of frantic pursuit, first with Roglic and then alone, Vengergaard caught up with him with 14 kilometers left in the race. Longtime rivals and won the stage with a dramatic sprint sprint.
“It was very emotional for me. Coming back from the car crash [in April], it means a lot, and everything I’ve been through in the last three months,” Vengergaard said. “It makes you think about it. I could never have done this without my family. I’m just happy to be here and it means a lot to win this stage, especially to win this stage for my family. They’ve been so supportive. I.
Pogacar’s failure to distance himself from his opponent will fuel speculation that while he is still strong, Vengergaard may now become stronger as the match goes on.
