Jonas Vingegaard saw his teammate Simon Yates take the stage win today from the breakaway, but he himself was also in great shape. The Danish leader of Visma | Lease a Bike stated after the first mountain stage that he feels better than he did during the Critérium du Dauphiné and explained what the plan was for the tenth stage. "We attacked to put pressure on UAE," Vingegaard said to the WielerFlits camera.
What was the plan today?
"We wanted to have a strong rider in the breakaway. We had Simon (Yates). He was incredible. He wins the stage, so I’m really very happy for Simon. It was a great day for us, we win the stage, and yes, personally I’m also pleased with how my legs felt today. So yes, I think we can say it was a good day."
We saw you attacking with Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss; wasn’t it possible to make a difference?
"UAE has a very strong team, and Pogacar himself had to do some work too. So yes, they were very strong today and good at defending. So hats off to them."
You were riding hard in the finale; did you want to keep Pogacar in yellow?
"No, that wasn’t the reason we attacked. We attacked to put pressure on them, and yes, if he had stayed in yellow, he would have had to do the podium every day. That, of course, costs energy, but we’re not really thinking about that. We just stuck to our own plan, and that was to apply pressure on UAE today."
Pogacar and Vingegaard crossed the finish line together – photo: Cor Vos
What have you learned from the first mountain stage?
"That we have a strong team. And that my legs are good."
You look relaxed; was it tough for you today?
"Yes, of course it was tough. It was up and down all day, really super tough. But I’m just incredibly happy with how it went today. Simon wins, and also how my own legs felt."
It seems like you’re smiling more and more as this Tour progresses, even though you’re still behind.
"Yes, of course I’m still behind. Of course, at some point I have to gain back time. But so far, in this Tour de France, I’ve managed to follow all his attacks — something I couldn’t do in the Dauphiné. So that shows I’m now at a higher level than there."
