The Australian cycling professional Michael Storer went a long way with his prediction for the Tour de France 2026 and predicted a defeat for exceptional rider Tadej Pogacar.
There are still around two weeks until the start of the Tour de France 2026, but the eyes of the cycling world are already fully focused on the upcoming duel between defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Giro winner Jonas Vingegaard.
The Australian Michael Storer, a strong seventh in the last Tour of Italy, is firmly convinced that the winds of the Tour will change this year and that Visma captain Vingegaard will be at the top of the podium at the end of the Grand Loop.
Storer: That’s why Vingegaard wins against Pogacar
“In my opinion he is in absolutely top form,” Storer said in the “Domestique Hotseat” podcast about Vingegaard, who he was able to take a close look at at the Giro. “I think he will be even better at the Tour than at the Giro,” predicted the Australian.
Storer referred to Vingegaard’s statement that he was usually even stronger on the second grand tour than on the first. “So I’m betting on Vingegaard for the Tour this year instead of Pogacar. I’ll just put that on record now.”
“He could leave us standing without getting out of the saddle”
Storer cannot understand why Vingegaard was criticized for his Giro performance because, in the eyes of the experts, he often rode too passively. “That’s not fair. […] He just didn’t have to make a big attack. He was able to leave us standing without getting out of the saddle. It’s less spectacular, but the deficits he caused us showed how strong he was.”
Storer admitted that he simply didn’t have the class to ride with the Slovenian or the Dane. “My response is to sit back and applaud them. […] These top riders are simply a step above everyone else. The real race for second place took place at the Giro. When Pogacar dominates, it’s pretty similar,” he said, tipping his hat to the two best cyclists of the moment.