“We’re both pushing more watts than last year,” said Jonas Vingegaard. “We’re both going faster.”
That is a scary and astonishing thought to process for the rest of the pro cycling peloton. Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, already on a higher level than everyone else in the Tour de France, have raised their speed again.
Today on the hors categorie Col de Joux Plane, the two men battled once again, mano-a-mano, two equal and opposing forces, both trading blows.
The tension was as relentless as the gradients that jumped up to 12% on the fearsome mountain. Vingegaard and Pogacar remain inseparable as the kilometers to the summit ticked away. Would this be the day the Slovenian finally took over the yellow jersey after chipping away for several mountain stages?
Jumbo-Visma set the early tempo on the climb but surprisingly it was UAE Emirates who had strength in numbers, despite working hard yesterday on the Grand Colombier.
Finally, at five kilometers to the top UAE’s Adam Yates cuts the small group down to himself, Pogacar and Vingegaard. Sepp Kuss is gone, along with Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe). It’s the usual suspects, Jonas and Tadej.
We’re waiting and waiting as the pressure gauge keeps rising up. Finally, at 3.5 kilometers to the summit, Pogacar unleashes his trademark vicious acceleration and bang, instant gap. However, this time around, Vingegaard keeps it at four seconds and gradually over the next 2k the Dane reels him back.
The two men ride almost side by side as they reach the summit and suddenly, roles reverse: Vingegaard attacks and takes the three second bonus for the climb.
Down the backside they go, heading for Morzine. Rodríguez
would catch them on the descent and pass them for a huge victory. Pogacar launches another attack that’s immediately thwarted by the media motos that are too close and block his path forward. A wasted bullet, Pogacar would say after the stage.
A final sprint to the line gives Pogacar second and Vingegaard third. Factor in those time bonuses and the three seconds at the top of Joux Plane and it’s a wash. Math that doesn’t have much meaning at all. An epic battle up a monster 11.6 kilometer climb and the end result: Vingegaard gains a second.
Yes, they’re both going faster and pushing more watts and they’ll battle all the way to Paris. Their closets two rivals are almost five minutes behind.
Final takeaway: We couldn’t help but notice today Pogacar’s face looked drained. We’ve never seen him like that. Yes, it was a hot day — he sprayed his face with a water bottle several time on the Joux Plane. Has he been pushing into the red zone too much? We’ll find out ….
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