Paris wanted to bid farewell to the Tour under a gray, rain-swept sky, perhaps as a nod to Jonas Vingegaard. He sought to feel the essence of his Denmark once more, crafting an atmosphere fitting for a cyclist who has already carved out an era. He rode as if the streets of the fishing village where he once worked the market were reappearing, a reminder that this star now pursues new challenges beyond merely watching the Tour. The immediate goal was to steer his path toward the next race next month.
Vingegaard is said to be more reserved—yet more outwardly expressive—than Tadej Pogacar, the rider whose smile is as captivating as his legs. Perhaps for this reason the Danish star sometimes receives less affection from fans, who tend to celebrate the underdog just as much as the winner. The legacy of Raymond Poulidor, always bested by Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx, still lingers in the public imagination.
Jumbo’s sample
But 2023 belonged to Vingegaard and his world-class Jumbo-Visma squad, the Tour de France team that had a plan for him from day one. The same exemplary unit that won the Giro d’Italia with Primoz Roglic in May aims to conquer the big three races again this year. That is why Vingegaard is collaborating with the Slovenian partner, hoping that either rider can arrive in red on the streets of Madrid.
The approach signals a shift in Vingegaard’s racing style. He is noted for being more adaptable than Pogacar, though the Slovenian phenomenon tends to dominate everywhere with a focus on education over sheer competition. Vingegaard, however, did win the O Gran Camiño in February, Itzulia in April, and the Critérium du Dauphiné in June. In other words, nothing is left hanging in the air, not even the decision to race the Vuelta, which he did not improvise this year.
Pedro Delgado’s take
“There’s a touch of revenge in this with Jumbo’s technology,” Delgado says. “But I think Pogacar is at the same level, and if the Slovenian falters, it’s largely due to the Liège crash in April. Vingegaard, more than anything, is lucky to race for a team that has laid out a season with careful preparation.”
Óscar Pereiro’s analysis
“Pogacar is the more explosive rider. The Slovenian, often explosive and powerful, didn’t press his advantage in the final climb but pressed just enough to keep the challenge alive in the Pyrenees and at the Puy de Dôme.” Pereiro notes that the team anticipated the Tour’s decisive moment would come in the lone time trial scheduled. “Compare them to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi; one loves show, the other stays focused. Pogacar rides with heart, Vingegaard with his head.” Pereiro, the 2006 Tour winner, suggests this season’s focus might push the winner toward the Vuelta, especially after last year’s triumphs. The shift in concentration is real, and it could redefine the path ahead.
Fernando Escartín’s perspective
“The Tour would have shifted if Pogacar hadn’t crashed in Liège, yet the Slovenian should stay focused on a full-season plan for the French race,” warns Escartín, who finished third in the 1999 Tour. The coming year promises a fresh dynamic with the start in Florence and finish in Nice. After a notable late-race victory, Escartín suggests that more young contenders will emerge and that a longer time trial might favor the Belgian rider in what could become a major duel.
Joseba Beloki’s review
Beloki notes that Vingegaard has a more cohesive team than before, even if in past mountain stages the Slovenian showed moments of wavering. He points to Pogacar’s earlier struggles when the team dynamics influenced the outcome. Beloki, a three-time podium finisher in Paris, remarks that cloudy Paris gave way to Vingegaard’s consistency for a second victory, with thoughts already turning toward the Vuelta after a dream Tour that culminated with Jordi Meeus winning on the Champs-Élysées.