21-07-2025
Vingegaard hasn't yet given up hope of Tour de France victory
DPA
Narbonne (France)
Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard has not yet given up hope of victory this year despite the stellar performance of current overall leader Tadej Pogacar.
'I do still think that I can win it. Of course, it looks very hard, now, it's a big gap, but I still think I can do it,' he told journalists on Monday, a rest day for the riders.
After 15 of 21 stages, Vingegaard is in second place, 4 minutes 13 seconds behind defending champion Pogacar, who has won four stages in the first 15 days of racing.
'To be honest, he makes a very strong impression. Pogacar doesn't have many weaknesses,' Vingegaard said.
The second third of the Tour of France features tough stages in the Alps.
'Normally, I'm strongest in the third week. Of course, I'm not going to tell you my tactics, but I do still believe I can do it,' he said.
'I mean, we have to attack. We have to try to do something. But again, I'm not going to tell you my tactics.
'I have the feeling I'm increasing my level, and if you stop believing, for sure, it will not happen.' Before this year's Tour, Vingegaard said that he was 'at the highest level' he had ever been.
But he had a tough first week time trial and also a big setback on the Hautacam stage, where he effectively won the Tour in 2023.
He then showed signs of improvement on stage 13's uphill time trial and again in the final Pyrenean stage at Superbagneres.
