After fifteen stages, only 10 seconds separates the yellow jersey, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) from his rival Tadej Pogačar (UAE). As we enter the final week, neither rider appears to have the upper-hand. The explosive attacks that helped Pogačar scratch back time after being dropped by Vingegaard on stage 5, have become less effective, as we saw during stages 14+15. And Vingegaard, on his part, has only ridden defensively since he took the yellow jersey, preferring to react to Pogačar’s attacks, rather than initiating them. There’s a hesitancy shared by both riders on the climbs, a fear perhaps of attacking too early, and the result has been cat-and-mouse tactics in the final kilometer.
If the stage 16 time trial fails to produce a considerable time gap between these two GC contenders, the difference might come down to their respective teams and strategies in the final stages. If this is the case, UAE’s tactic might be to help Pogačar gain enough time through time bonus sprints and attacking before the finishes. Such tactics would need to be countered by Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Visma team by putting riders up the road in a break.
So many unanswered questions in the final week. If Vingegaard keeps the yellow jersey after the time trial on stage 16, will he have an advantage – sprout wings – or will he succumb to the curse of Roglič in the final stages? Are the remaining mountain stages even to his advantage? And Pogačar, can he rediscover the explosiveness needed to gain a few seconds? Or will the limited preparation he had for this Tour prove in the final week to be more of a curse than a blessing?
From the Peloton
“It’s only my third Tour de France, and for sure it’s been the hardest one so far. It’s really hard to say now who’s going to win. It’s so close, it’s a really big fight. I think it [stage 16, time trial] is a good route for me. I like the routes where it’s not just flat road and straight for 50 kilometres.” – Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), 1st overall GC.
“After the time trial we take stock and look at the situation. In any case, the two remaining mountain stages will be all-out stages and will be decisive. An exciting, very interesting final week awaits.” – Tadej Pogačar (UAE), 2nd overall GC.
“I’ll try to keep on producing the best version of myself and I’ll fight with whoever’s next to me on the GC.” – Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS), 3rd overall GC.
“I definitely think I was just that little bit better last year. As a result, it went just that fraction better for me [last year’s Tour]. At the same time, we all set heaps of records here. I’m close to my best legs, that’s for sure.” – Wout van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma).
“[Giulio] Ciccone is coming at me quick. But I am just hoping that my fitness continues to go up, and I am hoping that he has been using a lot of energy to take those [KOM] points. He has been super aggressive, going one extra climb further than I am each stage, but I just have to hope that his energy runs out and I can take advantage of that when it happens.” – Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), currently 2nd place in KOM polka dot jersey.
“The first two weeks were intense, very difficult. Everyone rides hard, all the time. The match between Pogacar and Vingegaard further complicates the matter as both their teams want to show the other who is stronger. I can see that I can’t play for victory.” – Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal/Quick-Step).
