Vingegaard doesn't let himself off the hook at all: 'Mentally I never crack, so we keep believing in it'

By now they know it very well at Visma | Lease a Bike: it will be a hell of a job to ride Tadej Pogacar out of the yellow jersey. Nevertheless, the day after the beating that the Slovenian handed out to Jonas Vingegaard, calm prevails within the Dutch team. During the press conference on the rest day, Vingegaard addressed the rest of the Tour, the leaden final week that still awaits. Wout van Aert also spoke, discussing in particular his own growth curve.

Vingegaard not throwing in the towel yet: 'I'll just keep fighting until the end'

Vingegaard faced an even stronger Pogacar on Sunday, while he himself said he was already having one of his best days on the bike. 'It's true that I'm climbing at my best level ever. But if someone is better, they are. He's better now. But I still hope to turn it around in the final week, that's the goal. I just think it's still possible. In any case, I'm not leaving without a big fight. I've already won the Tour twice, I'm not coming here for second place. Victory is the goal.'

Goal and reality may be somewhat apart as we speak, but Vingegaard just stoically carries on. 'Pogacar seems very strong, but he has also had bad days. Remco Evenepoel is also still very strong, he has shown that. I would rather try to attack for place one, than look back. I'm super proud of myself and how the team rode on Sunday," the Dane echoed in a remarkably positive way. Not entirely surprising either, considering the past few months.

'As I said before, I can't be disappointed, Tadej was better and I was already at my best. I'm just happy. Of course I still have the mental strength, I don't crack easily in that area. I just go for it and ie it. We've had plans before that didn't work out as intended, but we're trying. It is possible to still win the Tour. We have to believe in it. I also feel a lot of support from my family, it's nice to have them here on the second rest day. My lungs are working well, so for the final week I have confidence in my ability. We didn't know where we stood, but Sunday showed that they are working perfectly.'

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Wout van Aert focuses on own chances, Vingegaard and secretly also on Games

For Van Aert, he started the Tour de France with some question marks. The Belgian cannot yet step into the role he filled in recent years, but he is feeling better and better. 'I felt stronger in week two than in week one. It went a lot smoother. This week I was good. From me, the third week could have been easier,' he winked at the press. 'I also see myself having a chance in the last week, in the breakaway. I also want to get results, I'm not thinking about improving my condition. The combination with helping Jonas is important for that.'

Van Aert is looking at Wednesday and Thursday in particular. 'Then the breakaway will have a good chance, but it's still uphill arrivals. Good climbers will also want to be in the race. It will be tricky. The stage to Barcelonette will also provide a nice battle, I want to try there too. I'm actually happy to be in the Tour. I have enjoyed myself quite a bit, although I expected to be better. I was on the sidelines for a long time. I really feel I'm getting better in finals, like in the stage to Pau. That's where you feel the growth.'

In the back of the Belgian all-rounder's mind are, of course, the Olympics. 'I'm not particularly busy with that right now, but of course I have been all year. It is a great prospect, and I am happy that the event is coming up. From the team I get a free role in the transition rides. I can go my own way. I feel better and better in the peloton. I am not a fear monger,' he elaborated on his earlier statements that he would be afraid in the peloton. 'I may have to be a little less honest in interviews, haha.'