Jonas Vingegaard

Jonas Vingegaard finished off a relentless display from Jumbo-Visma in the Alps to wrestle the yellow jersey off Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

But there was only one true king of the mountain on Wednesday, with Jonas Vingegaard delivering what could well have been the knock-out blow to Tadej Pogacar’s bid for an historic hat-trick of Tour wins. Rafal Majka managed to fight back to put himself in the service of his leader, but when Vingegaard lay down the gauntlet on the Granon, the Polish climber was incapable of closing the gap. Of course, a second place is a nice result on the GC – but I tried this last year and now I want to go for the victory, and that’s what I did today. We thought that was in my favour and in the favour of Primoz [Roglic]. I took a lot of time today but I would never have done that without my teammates – I really had to thank my teammates. Luckily it succeeded and I have the yellow jersey – so I’m going to keep on fighting for yellow and Paris.” “We made a plan from the start of the day.

Vingegaard wins epic battle of the favourites taking overall lead in dramatic Alpine showdown.

Quintana closed to 1-25 on his teammate, and the contenders were closing in too. The group of overall contenders were 4-50 further back on the approach to the final climb. Primož Roglič, Tadej Pogačar, Christophe Laporte, Jonas Vingegaard and Geraint Thomas were now clear and 6-36 behind the leading group as they flew towards the Col du Galibier. With Wout Van Aert still up the road, Jumbo-Visma were firmly in the driving seat as the race neared its first Hors Categorie climb of the 2022 Tour de France. 58 kilometres to go and Vingegaard would explode in a huge attack drawing Pogačar with him. Gescke was pushing on with Van Aert and Barguil and the pace proved to be too much for the Dutchman. Sensing that Roglič was beginning to tire, Pogačar would attack himself, distancing his fellow Slovenian, Kuss and Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers). Pogačar was clearly trying to isolate Vingegaard and he would attack again. Roglič would try again as they summited the Télégraphe although the race leader was set on not allowing Roglič out of his sight. Matteo Cattaneo (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) was putting in a huge effort to try and bridge across to the front and would eventually make it. For the first time in his career, Pogačar was under serious pressure and would soon be seriously isolated on the Col du Galibier. Roglič and Vingegaard would continue to work Pogačar over with Thomas watching on. The breakaway were swapping turns on the front and working efficiently as they continued the climb and were bound for the giant Col du Galibier. In a dramatic move on the summit of the Col du Telegraphe, Primož Roglič attacked forcing Tadej Pogačar to follow as Roglič pulled Jonas Vingegaard with him. By the time the race reached the final climb, the phenomenal efforts of Wout Van Aert had brought Roglič back to the group of contenders. The moment Christian Prudhomme dropped the flag, both Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) were straight on the attack.

A daring attack near the end of a punishing stage put a Danish rider in the yellow jersey, left Tadej Pogacar in his wake and upended the standings.

But he had to be humbled by his own performance and wondering how he could possibly catch Vingegaard in the days ahead. And then on the last climb I was thinking, ‘If I don’t try, I’m not going to win.’” On the day’s earlier climbs of the Col du Télégraphe and the Col du Galibier, Pogacar and Vingegaard traded attacks, with neither managing to get away for long. Pogacar, the two-time defending Tour de France champion, still has time to claim a three-peat. And Pogacar, who had controlled the race since it started on July 1, surprisingly did not — or could not — respond. And at the bottom of the final climb of the finishing Col du Granon, just about all the key riders were massed together.

Tadej Pogačar counters after Jumbo-Visma attacks on the approach to the Galibier in a preview of GC fireworks in the French Alps.

Vingegaard and Roglič then uncorked a series of attacks and counter-attacks to force Pogačar to chase it down each time. Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič momentarily isolated Tadej Pogačar on the approach to the Col du Galibier and unleashed a series of searing attacks with about 60km to go. Jumbo-Visma’s Christophe Laporte fell out of an early breakaway and then helped pace Vingegaard and Roglič out of the GC group after coming over the Col du Télégraphe.