Jonas Vingegaard, 25, earned the title of champion as the 2022 Tour de France concluded this Sunday, a victory that left him momentarily forgetting meals and surrendering the French race to his Danish rival. It marked the start of a fierce personal duel between the two riders not seen since 1989 when Laurent Fignon briefly lost the yellow jersey on the streets of Paris to Greg LeMond.
In the tradition of the era’s great time challengers, Miguel Indurain, Vingegaard faced relentless pressure as Pogacar pushed through the Alps, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees. About 15 Pogacar accelerations are remembered, from Alpe d’Huez to Hautacam, with Mende, Foix, and Peyragudes in the mix. The Dane’s responses were quick, often decisive, as Pogacar, hungry and thirsty, found Granon difficult to overcome and later struggled at Hautacam after a fall on the Spandelles descent.
From here to Bilbao
Similarly, a challenge from Ulrich and Pantani at La Madeleine echoed past dramas in yellow on the Tour. Lance Armstrong’s era saw the team dynamics at work, and Alberto Contador often remained in control as rivals like Schleck and Froome were pressed under the pressure of a Sky-led effort and the strength of Jumbo-Visma, with a stage win by Wout van Aert signaling the depth of competition.
As the calendar drew closer to 2023, anticipation grew for the race’s return on July 1. The streets of Bilbao set the stage. Pogacar admitted, “I gave my all, but I met a stronger rival, which fuels my drive for next year. I will come back to win.” It remains uncertain where a French-born rider from the Basque Country will head on the tour, but the potential for an epic clash remains. The Alps against the Pyrenees already promise a spectacle, and if anything improves, it will be nothing short of magical.
Entrance in Paris
The peloton arrived on the Champs-Élysées in the afternoon, celebrating a final stage marked by laughter, clinking glasses, and carefully staged poses that only resurfaced when the final bell rang. Jasper Philipsen of Belgium claimed the stage win as Vingegaard’s Jumbo squad crossed the finish line, confirming the second Danish victory of the Tour after the controversial sprint by Bjarne Riis decades earlier.
“I want to come back next year to win again,” echoed the sentiment of the rider who insisted that five Tours would be amazing, but a different victory would be just as sweet. Pogacar shared a poised outlook, acknowledging the challenge ahead. The triumph was marked by a moment of tenderness in Vingegaard’s personal life, reflecting the balance between sport and family that defines many modern athletes. A sense of duty to country and to loved ones underscored the victory, reinforcing Vingegaard’s status as a national figure in Denmark, celebrated by leadership and fans alike.
Pogacar, for his part, underscored the hunger for more challenges, describing himself as the sport’s most aggressive yet less predictable rider. The Vuelta looms on the horizon, and this year’s Tour has left him hungrier to win more races. He spoke of giving everything and not backing down, even as the podium featured Vingegaard with a mix of resolve and humor. He added that losing sometimes has value, because people crave variety and fresh rivalries. With 342 days until the next duel, the countdown has already begun.
Jonas Vingegaard, 25, earned the title of champion as the 2022 Tour de France concluded this Sunday, a victory that left him momentarily forgetting meals and surrendering the French race to his Danish rival. It marked the start of a fierce personal duel between the two riders not seen since 1989 when Laurent Fignon briefly lost the yellow jersey on the streets of Paris to Greg LeMond.
In the tradition of the era’s great time challengers, Miguel Indurain, Vingegaard faced relentless pressure as Pogacar pushed through the Alps, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees. About 15 Pogacar accelerations are remembered, from Alpe d’Huez to Hautacam, with Mende, Foix, and Peyragudes in the mix. The Dane’s responses were quick, often decisive, as Pogacar, hungry and thirsty, found Granon difficult to overcome and later struggled at Hautacam after a fall on the Spandelles descent.
From here to Bilbao
Similarly, a challenge from Ulrich and Pantani at La Madeleine echoed past dramas in yellow on the Tour. Lance Armstrong’s era saw the team dynamics at work, and Alberto Contador often remained in control as rivals like Schleck and Froome were pressed under the pressure of a Sky-led effort and the strength of Jumbo-Visma, with a stage win by Wout van Aert signaling the depth of competition.
As the calendar drew closer to 2023, anticipation grew for the race’s return on July 1. The streets of Bilbao set the stage. Pogacar admitted, “I gave my all, but I met a stronger rival, which fuels my drive for next year. I will come back to win.” It remains uncertain where a French-born rider from the Basque Country will head on the tour, but the potential for an epic clash remains. The Alps against the Pyrenees already promise a spectacle, and if anything improves, it will be nothing short of magical.
Entrance in Paris
The peloton arrived on the Champs-Élysées in the afternoon, celebrating a final stage marked by laughter, clinking glasses, and carefully staged poses that only resurfaced when the final bell rang. Jasper Philipsen of Belgium claimed the stage win as Vingegaard’s Jumbo squad crossed the finish line, confirming the second Danish victory of the Tour after the controversial sprint by Bjarne Riis decades earlier.
“I want to come back next year to win again,” echoed the sentiment of the rider who insisted that five Tours would be amazing, but a different victory would be just as sweet. Pogacar shared a poised outlook, acknowledging the challenge ahead. The triumph was marked by a moment of tenderness in Vingegaard’s personal life, reflecting the balance between sport and family that defines many modern athletes. A sense of duty to country and to loved ones underscored the victory, reinforcing Vingegaard’s status as a national figure in Denmark, celebrated by leadership and fans alike.
Pogacar, for his part, underscored the hunger for more challenges, describing himself as the sport’s most aggressive yet less predictable rider. The Vuelta looms on the horizon, and this year’s Tour has left him hungrier to win more races. He spoke of giving everything and not backing down, even as the podium featured Vingegaard with a mix of resolve and humor. He added that losing sometimes has value, because people crave variety and fresh rivalries. With 342 days until the next duel, the countdown has already begun.