Is Jonas Vingegaard already off to race for the yellow jersey?

The main rival of Tadej Pogacar points to 1,13 seconds of the Slovenian, a new yellow jersey, at the end of the time trial of the 5th stage, around Caen, where he conceded 1'21 “on the winner of the day, now second of the general, Remco Evenepoel.

The long-awaited duel may have already given a long time. After five stages in this Tour de France 2025, and while the Pyrenean and Alpine peaks are still far away, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates Xrg) already has 1'13 “in advance on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-lease a Bike), after his flash trial around Caen, Wednesday July 9. Struck a big blow on this 5th stage won by Remco Evenepoel (Sudal-Quick Step), Wednesday July 9.

Too bad for Norman specialties, at dinner, the Visma-Lease A Bike will only have the right to a grimace soup. This was already the case at the foot of the Dutch team bus on arrival in Caen. “I have no explanation, not yet”admitted Grischa Niermann, sports director of the yellow and black formation. “Everything was fine. We didn't expect to waste so much time but it happened. We're going to fight. It doesn't change our approach for the rest of the Tour”. A speech repeated by the American Matteo Jorgenson, co-leader of Dutch bees alongside Jonas Vingegaard, also distant (he lost 1'19 “on the time trial and 1'22” of the general on Pogacar): “We will have to analyze what happened. It was not what we hoped for, but we must accept it”.

The Bus of the Visma-Lease A Bike did not make old bones in the streets of Caen, quickly spinning towards the hotel to understand, with a cool head, what happened on this time trial where we expected Jonas Vingegaard to get ahead of Tadej Pogacar than the reverse. Particularly after the confrontation of the two men on a similar exercise during the Critérium du Dauphiné. “I expected a battle with myself today, after the Dauphiné. But I exceeded my expectations”, Admitted Tadej Pogacar on arrival.

“Honestly I thought Jonas would be closer, if he was even better than me. If I had known a day as on the Dauphiné, he would have beat me. Yes, I expected him to be closer.”

Tadej Pogacar

on France 2

From there to say that the Danish has already lost the Tour de France? Caution. “We did not expect that, but, paradoxically, it may be the best for the suspense because now the Visma will have to attack, by far. It can open the game “estimated Thomas Voeckler, on the bicycle club set, recalling that “the Tour will be played in the last week “in the Alps. “ONa already seen Vingegaard restore these situations during his two final victories and crack Pogacar, putting him three minutes in Granon and seven in the Loze pass. One day without arriving on the Tour “, Add Lilian Calmejane, Franceinfo consultant: Sport.

“It is a day without for Vingegaard, the addition is salty, more than expected, but I do not think that it has already lost the tour. With the big pieces that arrive, it can reverse the trend, especially on the second time in Peyragudes.”

Lilian Calmejane, former stage winner on the Tour

In Franceinfo: Sport

More comfortable in the mountains, Jonas Vingegaard will have playing cards during the Pyrenean triptych, but also on Mont Ventoux and the two alpine stages which will have more than 5000 meters of elevation, recalls Lilian Calmejane: “Vingegaard seems to me shot this evening, but it also seems stronger and confident than last year. Today, the gap is great but the turn remains a three -week race. He did not say his last word”. To return to the race, the double winner of the Tour de France can in particular count on team members of choice, including Matteo Jorgenson.

“We will have to make choices and send Jorgenson to war in the War in the Massif Central or in the Pyrenees instead of protecting a possible top 5 from his part. Vingegaard and Visma, their strength is patience. In the Giro, they won the last day with Simon Yates”recalls Lilian Calmejane. “They will be forced to adopt this plan, to be patient and to sign a coup on a day, where Pogacar cracks because it has already happened in the past”. Without forgetting any racing facts.

“There is something that did not turn round for Vingegaard in Caen, it's a huge disappointment, we will have to re -mobilize, keep your morale. It's not a stop. Pogacar has taken the advantage, but Vingegaard is not dead”tempered Laurent Jalabert, on France.tv. “He must keep morale because all the difficulties are to come. The turn is still very long”. A message that Tadej Pogacar shared, aware that nothing is acquired: “It is starting to heat up, the turn comes alive. I'm very happy to be yellow but it will be long.”

After five stages, the Slovenian dolphin is no longer Jonas Vingegaard, but Rémco Evenepoel, with 42 seconds behind Tadej Pogacar. But the third in the 2024 round is not seen as a serious pretender to the yellow jersey: “One day I will come to really win the tour, but today I think it's still a little early”, he entrusted to the microphone of France.TV. Failing to see the Belgian compete with Tadej Pogacar in the coming days, we will therefore await the reaction of the Visma-Lease A Bike. After all, bees only bite when they feel threatened.