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Tour de France 'is not over' - Jonas Vingegaard defiant after Tadej Pogacar lands latest blow on queen stage 18
Jonas Vingegaard vowed to risk it all to win the Tour de France, but his latest attack on Tadej Pogacar fell flat. The Dane is 4'26" adrift of Pogacar on GC with just three stages remaining, and only one of those in the mountains. Despite that, Vingegaard insists he still has a chance of a third yellow jersey. Did Visma's plan fall apart on the queen stage - or was Pogacar simply too good again?
Jonas Vingegaard insists the Tour de France "is not over" despite slipping further behind in the race for yellow.
Before the race's queen stage, Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) had pledged to risk it all to claw back time on Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). And on the penultimate climb, he looked to make good on that vow, pushing clear with his great rival to join a group containing team-mate Matteo Jorgenson up the road.
But the pace slowed in the valley after the descent before the brutal Col de la Loze, inviting a number of riders - including some of Pogacar's key mountain lieutenants - back into the mix. Vingegaard's Visma team-mates were soon overtaken as the driving force on the final climb as UAE dictated the tempo for Pogacar.
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When Vingegaard eventually kicked on the final climb, it felt like a token attack - a short-lived jab that was soon countered as Pogacar delivered another telling blow.
The Slovenian gained another nine seconds on the road and two more in time bonuses, leaving Vingegaard trailing by 4’26" in the general classification. Just three stages remain - and only one more of those features serious climbing.
Still, Vingegaard remains defiant in his pursuit of a third Tour crown.
"Today was a brutal day. Five hours in the saddle and I'm not sure I've ever done such a hard day in the Tour before," the Dane told a media scrum at the finish.
"I felt good, the team felt good. We had big plans, obviously, to try to go early. We did and unfortunately I couldn't take any time on Tadej.
"But the team did amazingly today. I want to thank them. Everyone was 100% behind the plan and it gives me much motivation. I think it looked like we were pretty equal today - he took a few seconds in the end but the Tour is not over."
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'The Tour is not over' - Vingegaard still believes despite losing more time on queen stage.
Did Visma get it wrong?
Much of the post-stage debate centred on whether Visma's tactics misfired.
Vingegaard’s move on the penultimate climb briefly looked like a masterstroke as he bridged to Jorgenson, but the plan stalled in the valley.
A lack of cooperation allowed Pogacar's domestiques to rejoin - albeit Vingegaard welcomed back team-mates too - with Jorgenson choosing to follow a move from Ben O'Connor (Jayco-AlUla) off the front and then unable to provide meaningful support when he fell back on the Col de la Loze.
Even so, the panel on The Breakaway were unanimous: there was not much more Visma could have done.
"It’s simple: Visma are doing everything they can do, they’re doing it really well but there is just one guy that is better," said 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen.
"The last few stages, Visma have been trying to execute their plan with Jonas and making moves on the final climb but they’ve been banging their heads on a brick wall.
"Jonas said they’re just going to keep trying because they might get to a point where Tadej cracks or has a bad day, and him having a bad day is their best hope.
"Visma did everything they could with Jorgenson going up the road which was a reasonable thing to do at the time to try and create a situation, because otherwise, it’s the status quo and you’re just riding and being another team-mate for Pogacar.
"You just have to try different things to create something and just try and do similar things tomorrow to try and break the race up and see if luck comes their way."
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Remco Evenepoel opens up on decision to abandon Tour de France - 'It's okay to stop, It’s okay to feel tired, It’s okay to be human'
The 2025 Tour de France ended in disappointment for Remco Evenepoel, as the Soudal Quick-Step rider abandoned on Stage 14. He has come in for criticism, and a few days on from stepping off his bike he has issued a statement explain his thought process and why he was proud of the decision he made. The Belgian also hopes that his decision can act as an inspiration for others when times are tough.
‘There’s so many things we don’t know’ – Breakaway debate Evenepoel withdrawal
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) has admitted abandoning the Tour de France was "the hardest decision I’ve made in a long time" but one he said was right for his long-term future.
The 2025 Tour de France was Evenepoel’s major aim for the season, with the 25-year-old targeting to at least repeat his podium finish from the previous year.
He started well and secured victory in the time trial on Stage 5, but cracked in the second week and climbed off his bike on Stage 14.
His decision to abandon led to plenty of criticism, with TNT Sports and discovery+ commentator Carlton Kirby describing the coverage as "almost relentless, bordering on cruel, because the expectations are so high".
Five days on from his decision to abandon, Evenepoel took to Instagram to outline why he stepped off his bike - revealing he went into the Tour with a broken rib.
"What was meant to be the highlight of my season turned into a disappointment," Evenepoel said.
Evenepoel suggested he had been playing catch up throughout 2025 after sustaining an injury during the winter, and suffered a further setback on the eve of the race.
"Just before the Tour came another crash," the Belgian said. "At the National Championships I broke a rib again.
"So I lined up for the hardest race in the world with a broken rib and a tired body.
"But I didn’t want to let go of the goal I had fought so hard for.
"Despite it all, I gave everything. I managed to win a stage, wear the white jersey [young rider competition] for several days and stand high in the GC.
"The price of those efforts started to tell. Twelve days in, I cracked. Everything I had been carrying caught up with me. I didn’t want to give up. I fought as hard as I possibly could."
On Stage 14, Evenepoel waved away a camera motorbike as he dropped off the peloton to talk to his team, before taking the decision to abandon.
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'Really frustrated' - Evenepoel tells cameras to 'go away' as he exits Tour de France
Having taken a few days away, Evenepoel felt it was the wisest decision he could make, as it turned out he had picked up a virus.
"That day became one of the rawest and most vulnerable moments of my career," he said. "I broke, and strangely enough I’m proud of it.
"That moment, as hard as it was, showed that I’m human.
"Leaving the Tour was the hardest decision I’ve made in a long time. But it was the right one.
"For once, I truly listened to my body and I hope that moment sends a message, especially to the younger riders watching: It's okay to stop, It’s okay to feel tired, It’s okay to be human.
"Sometimes stepping back is the strongest thing you can do."
Evenepoel said he would be taking some time away "to rest and recover" and gave no indication of his plans for the second half of the season.
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Stage 19 of Tour de France altered due to contagious cattle disease nodular dermatitis - two climbs removed from route
Stage 19 of the Tour de France has been altered due to the discovery of a contagious cattle disease on the Col des Saisies. The stage was meant to be nearly 130km, but will now be 95km, with two climbs - the Cote d'Hery-sur-Ugine and Col des Saisies - being removed. With just three days of racing left, Tadej Pogacar is a strong favourite to win the Tour for a fourth time.
The route on Stage 19 of the Tour de France has been altered due to the discovery of a contagious cattle disease on the Col des Saisies.
The stage on Friday was planned to be nearly 130km, with five climbs.
Now, the stage will be 95km, with two of the early climbs - the Cote d'Hery-sur-Ugine and Col des Saisies - being removed from the route.
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'Thank God' - Pogacar glad he will not have to hear famous 'I'm dead' words any more
"The discovery of an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle in a herd located specifically in the Col des Saisies has necessitated the culling of the animals," the ASO announced on Thursday night.
"In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided - in agreement with the relevant authorities - to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville–La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the Col des Saisies."
The new route means the stage will now begin an hour later, at 2:30pm local time in Albertville, 1:30pm in the UK. There will be live coverage on TNT Sports and discovery+ from 1:15pm.
The stage is still set to end in La Plagne. After that, there will be just two more days left of racing in this year's French Grand Tour.
It seems ever more likely that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will be celebrating his fourth Tour de France triumph in Paris on Sunday.
While Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla) claimed victory on Stage 18, Pogacar finished second and extended his overall lead over his great rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to 4'26''.
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'Thank God' - Pogacar reacts to viral 'I'm dead' clip
"I'm happy I had good legs and kept the yellow jersey," Pogacar said.
"It was difficult to make any difference today. I was a bit scared of this stage, but it turned out to be a beautiful day."
A defiant Vingegaard said: "I think it looked like we were pretty equal today. He took a few seconds in the end, but the Tour is not over."
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