Tadej Pogacar spoke about his emotional outburst towards Jonas Vingegaard during the 2021 Tour de France.
The 2024 Tour de France is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling editions yet, with the intense rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard set to dominate the race. The Slovenian and Danish duo have shared the yellow jersey in the last five Tours de France, and their competition has been marked by fierce racing, mental games, and mutual respect.
Pogačar, the outright favourite for this year's race, is considered by Vingegaard to be the best climber in the world over the last few years. The two have had their fair share of tense moments, such as the heated exchange they had during the gravel stage of the 2024 Tour de France, as captured by Netflix's Tour de France: Unchained. However, Pogačar later stated that the incident was "in the heat of the moment" and "something he didn't actually mean."
Vingegaard, who was part of an attacking trio that included Remco Evenepoel, has proven his mettle on long climbs, earning Pogačar's admiration. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) are other riders historically suited to such terrain.
Pogačar believes that the first 10 days of the race could determine the outcome, with the upcoming stages likely to feature punchy finishes and tricky finals, similar to Classics racing. He acknowledges that new riders may pose a challenge during the race but is anticipating a potential title exchange with Vingegaard.
Despite the tension, Pogaacar and Vingegaard show respect to each other after races, and the rivalry provides a great spectacle for fans each July. The supremacy of these two riders has defined much of the last five years of professional racing, and their rivalry drives intense competition, attracting considerable media and fan attention, enhancing the Tour’s drama.
While moments of outbursts or yelling, such as the one between Pogačar and Vingegaard, are part of the emotional intensity of competition, they do not seem to undermine the underlying respect between these two champions. Such incidents may fuel mind games or tactical psychological battles but have not led to long-term animosity or disruptions in the race dynamics.
Tension has existed between Pogačar's team, UAE, and Vingegaard's team, Visma, in past years. However, both riders have expressed respect for each other, with Pogačar even calling Vingegaard “the best climber in the world at the moment,” showing a professional and sportsmanlike attitude despite their rivalry.
The first week of the race is not Pogacar's aim to gain time, but to avoid major mistakes. He is expected to defend his lead in the mountains, where his superiority is most evident. The 2024 Tour de France promises to be a nail-biting spectacle, with Pogačar and Vingegaard set to engage in another strategic battle on the road.
Sports enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the 2024 Tour de France, given the intense rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, both renowned for their dominance in sports over the past few years. Despite moments of tension between the two, their mutual respect and fierce competition continue to captivate fans around the world.
