{"id":193456,"date":"2023-07-19T10:05:50","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T10:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=193456"},"modified":"2023-07-19T10:05:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T10:05:50","slug":"pogacar-on-losing-time-to-vingegaard-its-definitely-not-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/07\/19\/pogacar-on-losing-time-to-vingegaard-its-definitely-not-over\/","title":{"rendered":"Poga\u010dar on Losing Time to Vingegaard: \u2018It’s definitely not over\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even with a 1:48 deficit against Jonas Vingegaard, UAE Team Emirates competitor Tadej Poga\u010dar remains hopeful as two pivotal stages of the Tour de France lie ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt’s definitely not over,\u201d Poga\u010dar reassured after stage 16. \u201cEspecially if it’s raining tomorrow, I can promise you it’s going to be interesting. Two more really hard stages to come, I think the hardest stage of this Tour [is tomorrow], so anything can happen. Anyone can have a bad day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Poga\u010dar’s conviction, the 1:48 gap poses a significant challenge. While Tuesday’s performance was not subpar \u2013 Poga\u010dar even pulled over a minute ahead of third-placed Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) \u2013 Vingegaard’s was superior.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t feel the best in the second part,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI still went really solid, I was feeling the tempo OK. It’s a big gap now. I was hoping for less of a gap, I was hoping to be in yellow today, but that’s how it is today. I hope it’s like Marie Blanque stage, so tomorrow I can have good legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really happy to be 20 seconds in front of Wout van Aert<\/a> at the first checkpoint and on top of the first climb. I was trying to do well, gaining time on him but losing time to Jonas. I had to limit my losses to the finish, I gave it my all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Referencing the Marie Blanque stage alludes to the similar circumstances on stage five this year where Vingegaard gained over a minute on Poga\u010dar. However, the following day Poga\u010dar made a comeback, retrieving 24 seconds. The issue now, however, is that Poga\u010dar requires nearly two minutes to regain the lead from Vingegaard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to make a plan,\u201d he stated. \u201cIt’s not easy to gain 2 minutes, but we will try.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8A day not for the faint-hearted! Les Saisies and Roselend as appetizers, and the Col de la Loze as judge, jury and executioner of the stage.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8Une journ\u00e9e \u00e0 ne pas manquer ! Les Saisies et Roselend en amuse-bouche, et la Loze en juge de paix.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc9b#TDF2023<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hdZrBmT7mo<\/a><\/p>\n

— Tour de France\u2122 (@LeTour) July 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n