Jens Voigt 'fully expected' more from Jonas Vingegaard in Tour de France battle with Tadej Pogacar - 'I hoped it would have been closer'
Published 14/07/2026 at 10:43 GMT+1
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Former pro cyclist Jens Voigt has admitted he expected Jonas Vingegaard to be more competitive in the battle with Tadej Pogacar for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, with the latter currently holding a lead of 2'42".
Highlights: Van der Poel storms to Stage 9 triumph as Pidcock hit with mechanical issues
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was undoubtedly the clear favourite to win a third successive Tour de France, and a record-equalling fifth crown.
But there was hope that Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), after winning the Giro d'Italia for the first time in May, could at least run Pogacar close.
That has not proved to be the case so far, with the Slovenian too strong for the competition and looking likely to cruise to another title.
"I had hoped and fully expected that Jonas would be on par with Tadej after this great, victorious and strong Giro d'Italia," Voigt told .
"I didn't expect it to be two-and-a-half minutes already. I thought it would be a matter of seconds, or that they would attack together and arrive together. I had hoped it would have been closer together."
Pogacar's victory on Stage 6 was especially damaging for Vingegaard's yellow jersey hopes.
He stormed to victory after breaking away on the Col du Tourmalet, securing a 23rd Tour de France stage win and establishing a seemingly-unassailable lead.
After that demoralising stage, Vingegaard appeared visibly dejected.
"I saw a broken man," said 2012 Tour winner Bradley Wiggins on 'The Move' podcast.
"In recent years, when he always finished second, he remained positive and said he would keep the pressure on Pogacar all the way to Paris. But how many years can you keep that up? How often do you want to finish second?"
Even if Pogacar is uncatchable, Vingegaard will hope to remain second, with the likes of Isaac del Toro (UAE), Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) not too far behind.
But Vingegaard has not yet given up on the yellow jersey. Asked on Denmark's TV2 if the Tour was over already following Sunday's ninth stage, he said: "I don't think so.
"Many people think so, but I don't. I've been behind before and won. I believe it can be done. I'll fight all the way to Paris.
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"We had a good start to the race and won the team time trial, and I had two days in the yellow jersey, and that was, of course, nice.
"The way things went on the Tourmalet stage was not exactly what I had hoped for. That's how it is now, and we believe that I can get better and better throughout the race. So I'm actually quite confident for the rest of the race.
"I felt a bit the same way in the Giro. It wasn't the best start I had there. I got into the bike race better in the second and third weeks, and I got better and better - significantly better throughout the race.
"Of course, we also hope that I can be significantly better than I was on the Tourmalet. I believe I can do that, and the team believes so too."
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