How Visma-Lease a Bike plan to attack Tadej Pogačar in Tour de France queen stage: 'For sure Jonas goes there'
The Dutch team are hoping to replicate their successes of the past two years to take the battle for the yellow jersey into the final weekend.
![Jonas Vingegaard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qX8Kskt2txRsUH3Bfb9v3R-415-80.png)
And so here we are, the eve of a Tour de France queen stage, a once-a-year event that has proven to be Tadej Pogačar’s undoing in each of the past two editions: first came the Col du Granon in 2022, and then the Col de la Loze in 2023. Will Isola 2000 add to his nightmare collection?
Going into stage 19, a 145km ride with more than 4,500m of climbing, UAE Team Emirates’s Pogačar has a lead of 3:11 to Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard, the man who has delivered those most brutal of defeats. For Vingegaard, the defending champion, to make it a hat-trick of queen stage triumphs, he’s going to have to go deeper than ever before and produce a performance that supersedes his other masterclasses.
When he and his team look at the route profile, they’ll see that it’s uncannily similar to 2022’s pivotal day: a big climb into high altitude at the halfway point – the Cime de la Bonette, at 2,802m the highest paved through road in Europe – and then a fast descent preceding a steep finishing climb, the ski station of Isola 2000 playing host.
Back in 2022, Jumbo-Visma, through Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Tiesj Benoot, softened Pogačar up on the Galibier, and then Christophe Laporte and Wout van Aert, used as satellite riders in the break up the road that didn’t contain a UAE rider, dropped back to outnumber the Slovenian even more. By the time he got to the Granon, he was just about hanging on, and he was soon dropped, distanced, and out of yellow.
Visma sports director Grischa Niermann confirmed to Cycling Weekly that they’ve been preparing for tomorrow's queen stage for months, and though he wouldn’t divulge any tactics, he indicated that the rarefied air of the Bonette is where Vingegaard will aim to strike. “If we see that Pogačar has a weak moment on the Bonette, then for sure Jonas goes there,” Niermann said.
Bart Lemmen, the last-minute replacement for Sepp Kuss in this year’s race, declared that “we’re always confident, especially because Jonas is still feeling quite OK and the team is feeling good." He added: "I think the team has been going a great job the whole Tour in terms of tactics, the way we ride together, the cooperation, and of course we’re confident.”
Despite the upbeat statements, however, Visma are aware that the odds are stacked against them. Overturning a Pogačar in his best-ever shape, and just days away from completing a historic Giro-Tour double, is a momentous task, and they don’t expect the Slovenian to suffer at high altitude like he has in the past.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Of course [the higher elevation should be better for Vingegaard], but I don’t think anywhere in the last two-and-a-half weeks we have seen Tadej having a problem,” Niermann said. “For sure we go for it, for sure there’s a chance that the Tour finishes in Nice, but we also have to see how it will work out tomorrow. I’m not defeated, but in the end if Jonas finishes second and Tadej is just better, then it is like this. We will fight to the end, but we are also realistic and not stupid.”
What works against Vingegaard this time is that UAE have the better performing team, and in contrast to the last few years, they have had the numerical advantage on the climbs. Tactics are one thing, studied for months, but ultimately it all comes down to the legs. “The key to beating Tadej tomorrow is Jonas being stronger than Tadej. That’s it, full stop,” Niermann said.
“Of course we have a plan, but the plan always comes down to how good the best riders are," he continued. "We can have the best plan – we have had a lot of good plans already for this Tour – but if Tadej turns out to be the strongest and unbeatable, then the best plan doesn't work.”
According to Pogačar, race strategy will go out the window. “It’s going to be the legs to push, not too much tactics playing in hand, and just mano a mano tomorrow and the day after.” Remco Evenepoel, in third and only two minutes shy of Vingegaard, was encouraged by Pogačar to attack the Dane on stage 19, and the Soudal Quick-Step rider predicted “fireworks.” But will they come from Visma or elsewhere?
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
Is ‘distracted cycling’ the new ‘distracted driving’?
A German study finds that as many as 17% of cyclists use their phones at least once during a ride, and the consequences could be deadly
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Wildcard Pablo Castrillo denies Max Poole to take Vuelta a España stage 12 victory
Spaniard takes emotional victory with hard-fought solo mountain break, Ben O'Connor holds on to GC lead
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers director of racing Steve Cummings left out of all three Grand Tours in 2024
Team’s director of racing will not be included in on the ground Vuelta a España management group
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish set to end his career at Tour de France Singapore Criterium
Event will be Cavendish's final appearance for Astana Qazaqstan after he won a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage in July
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel in line to race Tour of Britain after Olympics success
Time trial gold medallist could feature for Soudal Quick-Step during six day event in September
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Primož Roglič reveals he suffered back fracture in Tour de France crash
Slovenian abandoned race after being caught up in crash on stage 12, Vuelta a España participation now in doubt
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
'A bigger result than winning': Jonas Vingegaard hails second place at the Tour de France
It turns out second place is not always 'first loser'
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'Even if I never come back to the Tour de France I will be satisfied': Tadej Pogačar revels in third victory
Three Tour de France wins before turning 26, the Giro-Tour double, the suggestion of a triple crown. Records tumble for the Slovenian
By Adam Becket Published