“The pressure is on him” – Jonas Vingegaard relaxed and defensive in first mountain battle against Tadej Pogacar

Vingegaard’s form has been uncertain in the Tour, but the first test on stage 2 saw him deliver a great performance, matching the Slovenian on the explosive climb to San Luca. Pogacar is traditionally stronger in these types of efforts, and so the balance could tip in the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider’s favour in the mountains. As such, Vingegaard will want to leave the race as it is until stage 14, when the peloton enters the race’s decisive stages in the Pyrenees.

“With the crash I had, it’s only natural that the pressure is on him. I’m still a question mark. With the preparation I’ve had, you never know how good I’ll be for three weeks,” Vingegaard adds, perhaps sincerely thinking about his own doubts about how he can ride three weeks on a less-than-ideal preparation like Pogacar did last year. “That preparation was far from ideal. So I think it’s normal that he’s the big favorite.”

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