Tour was not a good indicator of the Vingegaard-Pogacar rivalry: "He was still recovering then"

Jonas Vingegaard was unable to successfully defend his 2023 Tour de France victory this year. The Visma | Lease a Bike team leader could not match an impressive Tadej Pogacar. It was already quite remarkable, however, that the Danish stage racer finished second and won a stage, considering that a terrible crash in the Tour of the Basque Country left him battered back in April. His fellow countryman and former team director Brian Holm discusses his expectations for Vingegaard’s upcoming seasons with Eurosport.

It is expected that both Vingegaard and Pogacar will compete in the Tour de France next season. Pogacar, in particular, will want to match the five Tour victories achieved by the likes of Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, as he currently has three. Additionally, Holm, a former rider and former team director under the team of Patrick Lefevere, doesn’t foresee Vingegaard opting for the Giro d’Italia, for example. "I don’t think Vingegaard would dare go for the Giro, but on the other hand, he’s also not going to ride the Vuelta after the Tour," he states firmly.

While Pogacar is busy ticking off races, things are different for Vingegaard. Holm believes it would be wise for his compatriot to fully focus on the Tour de France. "I would focus 110 percent on the Tour de France. Put all your eggs in one basket, I’d say, because it’s a race where he’s already had a lot of success."

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Holm points out difference in character with Pogacar

Pogacar’s overall performance during the 2024 cycling year was downright impressive, even frightening for his competitors. Still, Holm doesn’t think Vingegaard wakes up at night in a cold sweat because of Pogacar. He also doesn’t believe that Vingegaard was at his best during the Tour, despite the rider himself saying he had reached his best numbers in a mountain stage. "He was still recovering from serious injuries when the Tour was held, so I’m sure he believes he can challenge Pogacar. That’s simply how the mentality of top athletes works. The day he thinks he can’t compete with the best riders anymore is the day he should consider retiring."

The difference in character between Vingegaard and Pogacar also came up in the conversation. It could explain why Pogacar wants to win as many major races as possible, while that is less important for Vingegaard. "He’s not like Pogacar, and he doesn’t enjoy all the media attention that Pogacar does. We know how important his family is to him, and being away from home for three weeks is a long time for his wife and kids."