Give us a pinch. But is it all true? Today's stage was sensational, and even more so when combined with yesterday's. The attack and the rematch. In a word: a duel. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard they gave us a sensational show.
Someone had already spoken about Tour de France "Closed," or at least well-directed, given yesterday's almost violent superiority by the Danish Jumbo-Visma driver. And yet today, everything is already different.
The duel of duels announced since their arrival in Paris last summer is living up to expectations. Every chance they've had, the two have faced off face to face.
Champion reaction
The added value of this day was Pogacar's reaction. A reaction of a champion, of a tough man, not just of a powerful athlete.
This boy had never been beaten. He had won easily, and having to fight to win was already a new experience. Moreover, yesterday he had taken a beating again. And well, too. The Slovenian not only managed to hold his own against Cauterets-Cambasque, but he did much more. A reaction to Pantani.
A few days ago, we wrote about the champion who sniffs out his prey. That something changes when he realizes he's healthy. And today the key – who knows if it is the key to the entire Tour – is in the Tourmalet. Jumbo destroys all hope. He splits the group like few times in the history of cycling, and Tadej stays there. The rider of the UAE Emirates he is focused, agile, stable… on the Vingegaard wheel.
The Dane pushes, but he realizes he's holding on tight. Something clicks in the mind of the champion, who needs to recover at that moment. Sure. Mathematical.
But what suitcases?
And that's what happened. After yesterday, some less than positive thoughts were in Pogacar's head. "Who wouldn't have been upset?" Pogacar himself said. What Jonas did yesterday was incredible.
«Today, when he started to accelerate on the Tourmalet, I thought to myself that it would be like yesterday. We could have packed up and gone home."
Today my leg was different and, as Tadej said, he sensed something… «Luckily today I had good legs. I managed to follow him on the Tourmalet and when I felt it was the right time, I attacked at the end – short pause and then he adds – It was a great relief."
This last one is a statement not to be underestimated from Pogacar. It's the first time we've heard it from him. But all of this only reinforces the feat of revenge. Of reaction.
That music on the bus
Reaction that started yesterday in some way. Even if at home UAE there weren't any long faces then. And once again the credit went above all to the person directly concerned, but also to the environment surrounding him.
«Yesterday we spoke calmly when he arrived at the bus – he says Joxean Fernandez Matxin he put himself in the downcooling machine and we lucidly analyzed it step by step. But calmly. Tadej said he'd met a stronger opponent, but also that there were still many days to go and that he was feeling a little better. He was optimistic as ever.
«Do you think that when we left Laruns we had the music at full blast on the bus!
In UAE They expected today's race to go as it did. And they would have been ready to defend themselves as a unit.
We had to be careful on the Tourmalet. And Tadej succeeded... Then what you saw happened. In the team car Andrei (Hauptman, ed.) who spoke to him told him about the road: how far it was, the curves, the slopes and after he left, in addition to the real gaps – the Spanish coach is keen to underline – also some other encouragement… For example he told him that Urska (Zigart, his girlfriend, ed.) was better, that her parents were there upon arrival, that he was doing something out of this world. All things to prevent his legs from hurting."
After the crash in Liège, Pogacar is fresher, and the Tour lasts three weeks. "That's true. It's something we've evaluated, but there are also opponents, starting with Vingegaard. It's not a race about Tadej... against Tadej."
"How do I see it? Yesterday he had the anger of someone who wants to redeem himself, and today he has the anger of someone who wants to win. It's not about anger. We're all united, united. There's a great atmosphere in the team. Today when he returned to the bus, we all hugged each other. And we all started jumping."
Accounts without the host
And then there's the side of the Jumbo VismaVery strong. They're also beautiful to watch. They arrive with the rouleurs up to 5-6 kilometers from the Tourmalet. They use climbers differently: not “diesel gregarious” style, but as climbing attackers. The actions of Kelderman (above all) and kiss they were short and intense.
At the top there is the other protagonist of the day who awaits them, Wout van aertSuperb. He rode alone for over half the stage. And like Tarzan on the vines, Vingegaard moved from one wingman to the next. A perfect tactic, and even the right one, if you like.
«It would have been perfect – said Vingegaard – drop Tadej on the Tourmalet and find Van Aert in the valley floorWe tried, but we didn't succeed. We'll fight until Paris."
Ultimately, the yellow-and-blacks were based on yesterday's numbers. Jonas was the strongest. And their tactics were more than legitimate. But beyond tactics, there are opponents. And when one of them is Pogačar, you can never rest easy.
Another piece of good news is that it's not over yet. The dream continues. Don't wake us up... but let's keep our eyes peeled!
