14 July 2023 at 05:11
The Tour de France circus heads into the high mountains this weekend. Today there will be a finish on the Grand Colombier. Yellow jersey wearer Jonas Vingegaard and challenger Tadej Pogacar expect a fierce battle on the hors category climb.
Pogacar retains excellent memories of the Grand Colombier climb in the Jura Mountains. The Slovenian won a Tour de France stage there in 2020, after which he stole the overall victory from under the nose of Jumbo-Visma leader Primoz Roglic through a spectacular denouement.
“I still remember that victory at the Grand Colombier,” says the leader of UAE Team Emirates. “And now I want to win again. It’s a beautiful climb. When I have the legs, I will attack. And I expect to be good.”
These are words that suit Pogacar. The 24-year-old all-rounder usually follows his intuition in the course and dares to play all or nothing. Vingegaard is also aware of this.
“It will undoubtedly be another tough fight,” says the 26-year-old Dane of Jumbo-Visma. “The Grand Colombier is a long and especially tough climb. I think it suits me. The run-up is flat, but after that it will be very difficult.”
Jumbo-Visma prepared for Pogacar attack
Sports director Merijn Zeeman of Jumbo-Visma, like Vingegaard, is prepared for an attack by the Slovenian competitor. “It’s a typical Pogacar day,” says Zeeman. “First a long flat part and then an explosive final. It will be defended.”
Pogacar is therefore looking forward to the final climb. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a nice stage. Whether it’s my intention to conquer the yellow? Well, that’s always the goal of course. We’ll see. I’m also happy if I can take back some seconds .”
“It will really come down to who feels good and who doesn’t,” concludes Vingegaard. “I’m ready anyway.”
The stage to the Grand Colombier will start at 1.45 pm. Mountain stages are also on the program on Saturday and Sunday. Vingegaard defends a lead of seventeen seconds over Pogacar in the general classification.
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2023-07-14 03:11:47
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