tour reporter
Jonas Vingegaard effortlessly counters Tadej Pogacar’s attacks on the final climb of the Tour de France. The Dane now has a psychological advantage but must hope that two of his helpers survived the fall caused by a fan.
There was for Sep kiss really no reason to be happy. But the American, with a big smile, weaved his way through the numerous people who were gathered around on a bridge in Saint Gervais parked team buses bustled about. It would have been easy to understand if Kuss had been fed up with cycling fans looking to get close to the pros.
Kiss collides with a spectator
Kiss is the most important helper of Jonas Vinegaard, the man in the yellow jersey. But this time he couldn’t be with the Dane for long on the final climb of the 15th stage of the Tour de France up to Saint Gervais Mont Blanc. Just under five kilometers before the finish, Kuss had the pace in the group around that Maillot Jaune can no longer follow. The pace wasn’t that exorbitant this time.
For Vinegaard’s noble helpers, the day had started with rough contact with the tarmac. Kiss collided with the spectator, who apparently wanted to take a selfie and turned back to the field with his arm outstretched just as the American passed him.
The professional cyclist lost control of his bike, fell and took his teammate in the process Nathan van Hooydonck with. The collision caused a mass crash involving around 20 riders. “I hope my teammates are both okay”said Vingegaard, knowing full well that he will still need his helpers in the second fight with Tadej Pogacar for the yellow jersey.
appeals of tour operator fizzle out to fans
The spectators and their behavior are an ongoing theme on this tour. At the beginning of the Tour of France, tacks were scattered on the route in the Basque Country, on the climbs individual fans kept running alongside the drivers and came dangerously close to them. Other spectators think it’s a good idea to ignite big smoke Bengalos as the peloton passes.
All the appeals by the tour organizer ASO, which has been calling for more respect for the drivers with TV spots for years, seem to simply fizzle out with some viewers. In Saint-Gervais, the interviewer commissioned by ASO asked Vingegaard and his opponent Tadej Pogacar to address those fans who behaved irresponsibly at the side of the track.
“Just try to be careful. Look at the drivers, not at the helicopters or your phone”said Pogacar. “Enjoy the moment when we come over.” Vingegaard also urged spectators to stay on the side of the road. You can’t forbid the fans to come. “But you just have to behave well”said the Dane.
preliminary decision in time trial?
It is difficult to estimate what impact the fall of his two teammates will have on the race. Kiss was back on the bike relatively quickly afterwards. A bandage on his right arm was the only visible sign of the consequences of the fall. Van Hooydonck took longer to get back on his feet and finished around 35 minutes behind the stage winner Wouter Poels to the goal. The upcoming rest day should come in handy for both of them – and the difficult time trial on Tuesday doesn’t play a major role for them either, they just have to get through it.
Things are different for Vingegaard and Pogacar. The fight against the clock will be decisive for the overall victory. Pogacar’s attempts to snatch the yellow jersey from the Dane or at least to close the gap also came to nothing on stage 15, which seems to be increasingly annoying the Slovenian. “The mountain was too easy for Jonas”he guessed.
mind games before the finish line
This time the UAE team had come up with a special tactical trick and the British Adam Yates sent forward about four kilometers from the finish. Another team-mate of the Slovenian was there, Marc Soler. “The plan was that the two should support Tadej after an attack”explained Matxin Joxean Fernandezthe sports director of the team: “The plan was perfect, but there is another very strong driver in the yellow jersey.” In fact, Vingegaard effortlessly countered Pogacar’s attack.
And when the Slovenian tried again just before the finish line, Vingegaard even passed and gave his rival a triumphant look. It is such games that now also play a role in the duel for seconds between the two.
Vingegaard has Pogacar ahead of him in the time trial
Vingegaard is now taking that small triumph into the time trial and also has the advantage of being able to start after Pogacar, so he always knows exactly what the gap to his rival is while the Slovenian is forced to set the pace. On the other hand, the 22.4-kilometre hilly course comes in between passy and Combloux Possibly contrary to Pogacar and its explosiveness.
“In the time trial, I think there will be bigger gaps,” suspects Vingegaard. For whose benefit? Opinions differ on this. With Vingegaard’s team they should also be looking at the 17th stage, that of Saint-Gervais after Courchevel leads and end up with that Col de la Loze has a 28.1 kilometer long and especially steep climb in store for the last five kilometers before it goes down to the finish line.
“This will be the king’s stage”, said Vingegaard, who likes these long climbs a little more than Pogacar. And if there is still no decision, there is also the 20th stage in the Vosges. “These duels that we fight get better and better every day”explained the Dane in Saint Gervais. “It’s going to be very exciting for viewers.”