"Jonas Vingegaard's aggressive strategy against Tadej Pogacar promises an exciting concluding phase in the Tour, regardless of the significant time difference between them"
Tour de France: Visma and Vingegaard Seek Renaissance on Mont Ventoux
In the ongoing Tour de France, Visma-Lease a Bike is looking for a rebirth, as they hope that their own renaissance sparked into life on Mont Ventoux, a mountain stage that has been dubbed the Géant de Provence.
Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish rider, sought to claw back some of the four minutes he trails Tadej Pogačar by on Mont Ventoux during stage 16. Vingegaard appeared back to his best after his bad days in the Caen time trial and on the Hautacam.
Pogačar, on the other hand, has not shown signs of imploding like he did in 2022 and 2023, and has given an impression of dominance at this year's race. The Slovenian rider stuck with Vingegaard all the way up the climb and ended up taking two more seconds on him in the final sprint atop Ventoux.
Visma sports director Marc Reef stated that they are still confident and want to fight for every chance that's still there. Tiesj Benoot and Victor Campenaerts were sent up the road by Visma during the climb, adding to their aggressive strategy.
The episode of Petrarch's climb, an Italian poet who claimed to have been the first person since antiquity to climb Mont Ventoux in 1336, is sometimes used as a beginning point for the Italian renaissance. However, the claim is a matter of debate, with scholars questioning the accuracy of his account.
The race is not yet over, and fans are hoping for more speed and desire from Vingegaard to take the fight to Pogačar. Stage 18 will feature 5,642m of climbing, including the Col du Glandon, the Col de la Madeleine, and the Col de la Loze, where Vingegaard previously triumphed over Pogačar. Stage 19 will be the final mountain stage, featuring 4,629m of climbing, including the Col du Pre and a finish at La Plagne.
Visma and Vingegaard will continue with their attacks and aggression in the remaining stages, as they aim to turn the tables on Pogačar and secure a place on the podium. The Tour de France continues to provide thrilling racing action, with every stage bringing new challenges and opportunities for the riders.
Sports teams Visma and Vingegaard aim to rediscover their form on the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour de France, and Jonas Vingegaard seeks to reduce the four-minute deficit to Tadej Pogacar. Despite struggles in previous stages, Visma remains confident and plans to fight for every opportunity in the remaining stages, aiming to challenge Pogacar and potentially secure a podium position.
