Why 'even stronger' Jonas Vingegaard believes this year is different and he can best Tadej Pogacar at 2026 Tour de France
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Published 24/06/2026 at 23:06 GMT+1
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Jonas Vingegaard says he and his Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates are brimming with belief that they can beat the reigning champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) to Tour de France glory this July.
Highlights: Pogacar wins overall Tour de Suisse crown after Stage 5 victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Danish rider dominated his first crack at the Giro d’Italia in May, winning five stages and claiming the pink jersey at a canter in the absence of his great Slovenian rival.
Vingegaard is soon set to resume a Tour duel with Pogacar that is fast becoming the stuff of legend, with the Slovenian having four yellow jersey wins to his name and the Dane two.
The Visma-Lease a Bike star went into the past two editions of the showpiece Grand Tour on the back of serious injuries, but positive preparation this time around has left him feeling "more myself".
The 2026 Tour de France gets underway on Saturday, July 4 with the Grand Depart in Barcelona, before concluding on the Champs Elysee on Sunday, July 26.
Every stage will be live and on demand on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
"I have a lot of belief in myself, and that also gives the other guys belief,” Vingegaard said during Visma-Lease a Bike’s Tour de France team announcement.
”They really believe in the plan we have and also believe that it's possible to win the Tour de France again.
"It's now three years ago that I won it the last time. Ever since, it's been a big goal for me. Of course, there have been a lot of setbacks, but that's something I feel like that's behind me now.
"I grew back to being more myself again. It took me some time, but now I finally feel like I'm there, as the same person I was before all these setbacks. I feel like I'm an even stronger version than I was back then."
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Vingegaard can call on an elite team to help him in his efforts to claim the yellow jersey in France.
Former Vuelta winner Sepp Kuss joins him alongside Matteo Jorgenson, Edoardo Affini, Bruno Armirail, Victor Campenaerts and Per Strand Hagenes, but Wout van Aert has been replaced by Davide Piganzoli after suffering an elbow injury.
Three of those riders – Kuss, Campenaerts and Piganzoli – assisted Vingegaard in his dominant Giro d’Italia conquest.
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'I changed a lot of plans' - Pogacar admits schedule is still up in the air
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It gave me some confidence for the Tour de France to come out of the Giro in a good way – winning five stages for me, one with Sepp, and the GC as well," Vingegaard said.
"It was definitely a good race for us, giving us some confidence and belief that we can win the Tour.”
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Watch and stream the 2026 Tour de France on TNT Sports and HBO Max
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