Jonas Vingegaard lacks the confidence to attack Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France – Adam Blythe

Adam Blythe has questioned whether Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) has the requisite confidence to attack Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at the Tour de France.

Vingegaard defended his 10-second lead in the general classification on Stage 15 as he fended off moves from his rival Pogacar in the last kilometre of the 179km stage

The top three in the general classification – Vingegaard, Pogacar and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) – were together as they tackled the summit finish. And Pogacar twice tried to make a move in the last kilometre. However, both times Vingegaard impressively closed them down.

But in the latest episode of The Breakaway, Blythe, speaking alongside Orla Chennaoui, Dan Lloyd and Robbie McEwen, pondered whether the Dane has the confidence to attack his rival.

“I don’t think Vingegaard has the confidence to attack Pogacar,” said Blythe. “We have not seen a single attack from Vingegaard.

“There was one point where he was on the back of Pogacar. And it was like, ‘Oh. Is he going to go?’ I think he’s afraid of losing time and not believing in himself enough to go on the attack and gain more time.”

Dan Lloyd had previously showered Vingegaard with praise.

“He was brilliant today,” said Lloyd.

“He was sat in the saddle, and barely got out of it, even responding to the Pogacar attack.

“The gradients weren’t quite as steep [at the very end], but still, we know how explosive Pogacar is, so to be sat on the wheel, sat in the saddle, it goes to how comfortable Vingegaard was.

“And we saw that again, at the end when there were no bonus seconds left available. It was a mental game at that point.

“[Vingegaard’s thinking] ‘you’ve given all you’ve got and I’ve still got a bit more left, so I’m going to come round you’ but Pogacar thought, ‘I’ve still got a bit left as well as I’m going come around you before the finish’.

“There’s been so little to separate them.”

Monday sees the final rest day of the Tour before the race returns on Tuesday with an individual time trial.

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