Contador believes Vingegaard helped create the Pogacar he now struggles to beat

Tadej Pogačar has won the last three editions of the Tour de France, yet Alberto Contador believes the Slovenian would not have reached his current level without Jonas Vingegaard.

Speaking to Danish outlet Feltet at an event hosted by Børkop Cykler, the two time Tour de France winner made it clear just how highly he rates the Dane.

"We are watching an incredible Pogačar right now. But he is only this good because of Jonas Vingegaard."

It is a view that fits with what former UAE Team Emirates rider George Bennett said earlier this year about Pogačar's transformation.

Bennett was alongside the Slovenian when Vingegaard turned the 2022 Tour de France on its head on the Col du Granon. That defeat, he believes, changed Pogačar.

"The Granon woke up the beast," Bennett told MARCA in March.

According to the New Zealander, Pogačar had previously relied more on his natural ability. Losing the Tour prompted a different approach to training, nutrition and preparation.

"He already had huge talent, but he didn't work as hard as others. Now he is completely focused. He trains a lot, he has changed his diet."

Four years on, Pogačar has taken his rivalry with Vingegaard to another level. And Contador, for all his admiration for the Dane, is not convinced the balance will shift back in 2027.

Having faced some of the best climbers of his generation, Contador knows how difficult it can be to expose a rival's weaknesses. With Vingegaard, he suspects it would be especially frustrating.

"He is an incredible rider. If I were still racing and had Vingegaard as my rival? Whooosh!"

What stands out to Contador is how rarely Vingegaard gives anything away.

"He makes no mistakes. Sometimes he might have a bad day, but as a rival you wouldn't know."

Contador also praised Vingegaard's positioning, nutrition and ability to recognise opportunities during a race. In his eyes, there is very little the Dane could do better.

The problem is that Pogačar has often been physically stronger.

"When Tadej beat him, it was because Tadej was producing more watts," Contador explained.

Vingegaard's latest Tour campaign ended with a crash in 2026, although by that point he was already around four minutes behind Pogačar in the general classification. Overturning that deficit would have been a huge task even without the crash. 

Nevertheless, Contador expects the disappointing end to his Tour to provide plenty of motivation over the winter.

"I'm sure he is very motivated to improve his level even further," Contador said. "I definitely think next year's Tour will be different."

Whether that will be enough is another question.

"Maybe first place will be difficult, but second place is certainly possible for him, because Jonas will try everything to win the race."