Mathieu Warnier, media365: published on Friday July 25, 2025 at 11:15 p.m.
After trying everything to overthrow the Tour de France this Thursday, Jonas Vingegaard was an almost passive spectator in the climb to La Plagne before admitting that Tadej Pogacar once again won their duel.
This time, there was no trafficking from the Visma-Lease A Bike team. After playing his all this Thursday on the slopes of the Madeleine pass without managing to crack Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard could do nothing other than staying in the wheel of the yellow jersey wearer on the 93.1 kilometers of a shortened stage and won by Thymen Arensman at La Plagne, during which the runners of the UAE team team Emirates-XRG have long provided the peloton tempo. If he was able to recover two seconds of enhancement on the Slovenian with pride, managing to get it in a mountain stage of the Great Loop for the first time since his victory in Lioran last year, the Danish fell their arms once the finish line is crossed, he who was still claiming this Wednesday that he could “always win the Tour de France”. “Tadej Pogacar was very strong. He was the strongest runner, he deserves to win, said the double winner of the test in remarks collected by RMC Sport. Sometimes you just have to accept it, and I accept it. »»
Vingegaard targeted the stage more than the general
A 19th step which saw the native of Hillerslev leaves aside his ambitions for the general classification in search of a more immediate glory. “To be honest, I was trying more to go and seek the stage victory today (Friday),” he said. Unfortunately Thymen Arensman did a very good job at the end, he deserved to win, he was very strong. “Seeing the stage victory escape him, finishing second to two seconds from the runner of the Ineos Grenadiers team staying” a disappointment “for a Jonas Vingegaard who” tried to play the game in the last climb “. A failure which also owes the defensive strategy applied by Tadej Pogacar, as he had done this Thursday on the slopes of the Col de la Loze. According to its sports director Mauro Gianetti, the Slovenian “could not put himself thoroughly because in his wheel Jonas Vingegaard was sparing from energy” and he wanted to “arrive at the same time” that the Danish to maintain a gap more than four minutes. Because, on the side of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team, caution remains a step before a backpacker between Nantua and Pontarlier this Saturday then the three passages on the Butte Montmartre this Sunday at the end of the Grande loop.
