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SPARRING ON THE SUMMITS
Who can prevent Tadej Pogačar winning a fifth title? In his quest to equal the Tour de France record, the Slovenian has only one rival of his calibre: 2022 and 2023 Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard. In their wake, the battle for the final step on the podium will be fierce.
JONAS VINGEGAARD
DENMARK, TEAM VISMA – LEASE A BIKE Tour results: 1st in 2022 + 2023
★ ★ ★ ★
STRENGTHS: The Dane was dominated by Tadej Pogačar in the last two Tours, but he’ s been in commanding form so far this season and has just won the Giro d’ Italia. He appears to be the only one capable of beating the defending champion. Always strong in time trials, he will focus above all on trying to distance his rival in the high mountains, his preferred terrain. He can also count on an extremely solid team.
WEAKNESSES: Last summer, the two-time Tour winner was defeated by the surges made by Pogi, hanging on for about a hundred metres before dropping back. His teammates will also need to avoid getting dropped, as was the case a year ago. After riding the Giro, will he be in peak physical condition?
TADEJ POGAČAR
SLOVENIA, UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG Tour results: 1st in 2020, 2021, 2024 + 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
STRENGTHS: The world’ s best rider. At 27, the Slovenian excels wherever he rides. Capable of winning in the mountains, on punchy finishes, in time trials or even on the cobbles as he did this spring, he’ s close to invincible. Now more economical and tactically savvy over three weeks, he knows exactly where and how to break his rivals.
WEAKNESSES: The UAE armada has its weaknesses, particularly in the team time trial. At Paris-Nice, it fell apart when in full flight, conceding nearly 40 seconds to Ineos. As a result, the Emirati team will need to limit its losses in Barcelona. The double world champion sometimes finds himself isolated in the mountains as well, as was the case on the climb to Col de la Loze last year.
PHOTOGRAPHS: CHARLY LOPEZ / ASO
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