Jonas Vingegaard follows Tadej Pogacar like his shadow. Since the departure from Bilbao, the tactics of the Dane, leader of the Jumbo-Visma formation, can be summed up in a total absence of risk taking, it has the simple aim of clipping the wings of the vengeful Slovenian who had sinned by excess of confidence during of the 2022 Tour in the face of repeated attacks by the hornets of the Dutch team. And ended up giving in.
This Sunday, in the dive towards San Sebastian, after passing the top of Jaizkibel, famous justice of the peace of the Clasica San Sebastian, Tadej Pogcar seized the opportunity to grab the bonus seconds hung before extending his effort. Behind his back, glued to his shorts, clinging to his bib, Jonas Vingegaard quickly made it clear to his rival that he would not take over. The Dane just jumped on the back of his rival to cut his legs, break his momentum.
Far from the Jumbo-Visma team which, during the legendary stage of the Col du Granon, then in the Hautacam stage had, in 2022, dazzled by its entrepreneurial spirit. From the blackboard. Dutch newspapers had no hesitation in referring to the “total football” made famous by Johan Cruyff’s Ajax Amsterdam in the 1970s.
And at the same time, Wout van Aert irresistible last year no longer has the same success. In the final of the San Sebastian stage, the 2022 green jersey, supported in particular by the Dutchman Wilco Kelderman and the Belgian Tiesj Benoot, was unable to counter Victor Lafay’s cannon attack while the responsibilities rested on their shoulders this Sunday. The Frenchman could head for the best day of his life as a runner. Van Aert and his people must have cursed the guilty reaction time.
For 48 hours, Jumbo-Visma has seen UAE Team Emirates in yellow (Adam Yates, winner of the first stage) and white (Tadej Pogacar) and has been waiting for a first victory. Illustration of a team defending a title when its rival tries to win it back, relying on a new collective strength. UAE Team Emirates leaves, for now, Jumbo-Visma to struggle with the constraints of an uninspired catenaccio.
