Jonas Vingegaard says he can win Tour de France for third time but insists Visma-Lease a Bike 'need to attack'
By Jonny Bray
Updated 21/07/2025 at 16:22 GMT+1
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Jonas Vingegaard believes that he can still win the 2025 Tour de France despite trailing Tadej Pogacar in the general classification. The Danish rider is currently four minutes and 13 seconds behind Pogacar after Stage 15. Pogacar is hoping to retain the yellow jersey he won last year, while Vingegaard is aiming to win it for a third time after triumphs in 2022 and 2023.
Highlights: Wellens storms to Stage 15 triumph as Alaphilippe wrongly celebrates victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) insists he can still win the 2025 Tour de France despite trailing Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) by more than four minutes after Stage 15.
The two-time Tour de France winner is currently four minutes and 13 seconds behind Pogacar after his Slovenian rival recorded four stage victories during the first 15 days of this year’s event.
The Danish rider fell further behind after being forced to settle for 40th place following a disappointing showing in Stage 15.
Vingegaard believes he is usually at his best during the third week of the Tour de France and that he still has a chance of chasing down Pogacar.
"I do still think that I can win it," Vingegaard said. "Of course, it looks very hard, now, it's a big gap, but I still think I can do it.
"Normally, I'm strongest in the third week. Of course, I'm not going to tell you my tactics, but I do still believe I can do it."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Vingegaard won the coveted yellow jersey in 2022 and 2023 but missed out last year to Pogacar.
He believes that he will have to go on the attack in order to close the gap with his rival.
"I mean, we have to attack," he said. "We have to try to do something, but again, I'm not going to tell you my tactics.
"I'm feeling better. Obviously, I had two bad days. Normally, I have no bad days; that's unfortunate, but I can only look forwards.
"I have the feeling I'm increasing my level, and if you stop believing, for sure, it will not happen."
Stage 16 will see the riders tackle the iconic climb up Mont Ventoux
However, Vingegaard confirmed that he would not go on the attack too early during his ascent.
"It's a super hard climb," he said. "Probably it'll be paced hard from the bottom. If somebody's sick, it'll show from the bottom too.
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Vingegaard was full of praise for Pogacar, admitting that he does not have any weaknesses heading into the final stretch of the iconic Grand Tour.
"To be honest, he's been looking very strong so far," he added.
"I wouldn't say he's got any weaknesses; he's probably one of the best all-rounders in the bunch, if not the best. If I found one, I wouldn't sit here and say it.
"I think the biggest improvement both him and I made was two years ago to last year, from there it went up a little bit, but the biggest was from 2023 to 2024."
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