Jonas Vingegaard survived the “heart attack” of a fall near Saturday’s individual time trial to virtually end the Tour de France and now only needs to cross the finish line of the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Sunday to secure the yellow jersey of the champion.
Team Jumbo’s Vingegaard leads the overall standings 3min 34sec ahead of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, while 2018 winner Geraint Thomas of Ineos Grenadiers is third at 8min 13sec .
Saturday’s time trial was won by Wout van Aert ahead of Danish team-mate Vingegaard, meaning Jumbo has six stage wins, the yellow jersey, the sprint green jersey and the polka dot mountains jersey.
But on Saturday, Vingegaard was the last of the 139 surviving riders down the ramp and set a relentlessly high pace around the country roads, meaning a battle of nerves with Pogacar never arose.
“I almost had a heart attack,” Vingegaard admitted.
Vingegaard, who was runner-up in 2021 behind Pogacar, said he was already thinking about his 2023 challenge.
“I didn’t set out to do five Tours de France or anything like that. I just want to come back and win.”
“I’m proud of myself, I did what I could, and at least I have the white shirt (best under-25),” said Pogacar.
Thomas will also be remembered for his under-the-radar approach that earned him a podium finish in 36th.
– Epic Fight –
The two main protagonists battled from start to finish with Vingegaard dethroning the two-time champion with a couple of towering performances on the high mountain.
But the stars aligned against Pogacar when he lost teammates to Covid and injury. He is also a known man who does not like intense heat.
Their epic fight was highlighted in a moment of sportsmanship when Pogacar fell at speed and the pretender to his throne waited for him to catch up, the pair briefly holding hands in a memorable image from one of the best modern editions of the Tour.
“He is one of the best drivers in the world and I respect him, we respect each other.”
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