As metaphors go, Jonas Vingegaard getting knocked over after the Mont Ventoux summit finish on stage 16 is perhaps a bit on the nose.
The two-time Tour de France winner from Visma-Lease a Bike had just spent the last hour going toe to toe with rival and current race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), fighting him to almost a draw on the 21 km climb to the top of the fabled Giant of Provence. It was the Dane’s best showing in a week, and now he was grumpily rubbing his shoulder as he rightfully groused about an inattentive photographer who’d sent him tumbling off his bike in the finish line melée. Whether on the ground or on the bike, he’s still looking up at the yellow jersey.
“I was happy with the feeling today and happy with the attacks I tried to do,” Vingegaard said at the finish. “Of course I didn’t gain any time today but I take a lot of motivation from the commitment of the team.”
Dane Cash
For Tour fans waiting for someone capable of taking the fight to Pogačar, Tuesday’s Ventoux stage offered up a tantalizing bit of hope. After two straight weeks of aggressive racing that often puzzled commentators and even other teams, Visma set the stage for a tactical masterpiece, placing Tiesj Benoot and Victor Campenaerts in the day’s big breakaway. As if matching chess moves, UAE countered with Marc Soler and Pavel Sivakov, and the board was set.
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