Team Visma | Lease a Bike immediately showed itself at the front of the race in the battle for the early breakaway during the tough Vosges stage. Matteo Jorgenson, Bruno Armirail and Victor Campenaerts managed to join a breakaway of around thirty riders on the Grand Ballon. However, due to the control maintained by the peloton, the breakaway was not given much room to extend its advantage.

On the final climb of the day, the Col du Haag, the battle between the GC riders erupted. Sepp Kuss put in a strong effort, after which Vingegaard increased the pace. The Dane showed his strength, but ultimately had to acknowledge Pogacar’s strength, with the Slovenian riding solo to victory.

“I’m happy with my performance today,” Vingegaard reflected afterwards. “It was certainly not a bad day. I learned a lot about myself today. My legs are at the level I wanted them to be. I’m happy with how we rode as a team today. We did a good job.”

Team director Marc Reef was also pleased with his team’s performance. “Jonas rode a very strong climb. It was good to see that we had three riders in the breakaway and that Matteo, Victor and Bruno showed that they are getting back to their best. Sepp put in a very strong effort on the final climb, after which Jonas accelerated. When Pogacar went, it was every man for himself, and Jonas, just like in the previous mountain stages, fought for everything he was worth.”

Another tough stage through the Vosges awaits tomorrow, with the finish at the top of the Plateau de Solaison. Reef is looking forward to the challenge: “In the previous mountain stages, Jonas lost some time after the top of the final climb, but tomorrow we finish at the top of the final climb. We are really looking forward to seeing Jonas battle all the way to the top with the other GC riders.”I’m happy with how we rode as a team today. We did a good job.”