'The fight is not over' – Vingegaard defiant despite heavy early loss to Pogacar

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) admitted he was not at his best after suffering a heavy blow in his tilt to win a third Tour de France, on the 

The Visma | Lease a Bike leader lost 2:38 to the world champion on stage 6 as Pogačar launched a devastating solo attack on the Col du Tourmalet before riding alone to victory in Gavarnie-Gèdre to reclaim the yellow jersey from Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility). 

After UAE Team Emirates-XRG whittled down the lead group on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet, Isaac del Toro launched an initial acceleration with his leader Pogačar locked on the wheel. 

Nobody was able to match the pace set by the UAE duo, with Vingegaard choosing to settle into his own rhythm.

“It was a very tough day. It was not the day I wanted, obviously, but that’s how it is sometimes,” Vingegaard told media including TNT Sports at the finish.  

Vingegaard initially held Pogačar at around ten seconds, but as the gradients remained at their steepest in the closing kilometres of the climb, the world champion stretched the advantage to thirty seconds by the summit, and the gap continued to grow on the descent. 

“So they [UAE] put in a big attack on the Tourmalet, and I couldn’t follow, and I had to settle within my own pace, and over the top, I was not that far. But on a downhill like this, it’s not really suited to me.”

When asked whether he had been operating at his optimum level, the two-time Tour de France winner admitted that he wasn’t at his best, but refused to look for excuses. 

“I don’t think so. It was not my best day, but yeah, that’s how it is,” said Vingegaard. “No, I’m obviously disappointed; I have to be. But yeah, sometimes that’s life, and I can not change it.”

The result leaves the Dane trailing Pogačar by 2:42 in the general classification after six stages, leaving him with a major uphill task to upend the seemingly infallible Slovenian. 

Vingegaard dismissed the idea of throwing in the towel, however, and he indicated that he hopes his legs will improve as the race grows older.

“No, I still believe in myself. I still believe my legs will get better throughout the race, so the fight is not over.”