Vingegaard outclasses Pogačar: Jonas from the roof

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Jonas Vingegaard wears the yellow jersey in the Alps

Photo:

Daniel Cole/AP

The cannibal breaks in:

The pictures could not have been more different.

On the eleventh stage of the Tour de France from Albertville to the Col du Granon Serre Chevalier, Tadej Pogačar seemed to demonstrate his power once again.

At the foot of the final climb, the 23-year-old smiled at the camera and made a fork gesture as if looking forward to the evening's carbs.

Twelve kilometers later, at the finish, Pogačar – who just a few days ago was being celebrated as cycling's new cannibal – lay exhausted on his handlebars and didn't know what had just happened.

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), third overall ahead of the stage, 39 seconds behind Pogačar, left his rival behind to become the new yellow jersey wearer.

The day's result:

Vingegaard won 59 seconds ahead of Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic), followed by Romain Bardet (DSM) in third place.

Pogačar moved up to seventh, 2:51 back.

Overall standings:

Vingegaard goes into the next stage with a 2:16 lead over Bardet.

Pogačar even dropped to third place, 2:22 behind the Dane.

The tour breathes history:

There are mountain passes in France that every cycling fan immediately immerses themselves in when they mention them.

The Mont Ventoux in Provence, the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees or the Col du Galibier in the Alps.

This mountain of the "Hors Catégorie" with a climb of almost 18 kilometers was only the warm-up program for the Col du Granon Serre Chevalier this time.

Not quite as famous as the Galibier, but no less difficult.

With an average gradient of 9.2 percent, the Granon is considered one of the most difficult passes in Europe, as both Bernard Hinault and Pogačar now know.

French Tour legend Hinault, a five-time Tour winner, started Stage 17 in 1986 as the leader.

At the Granon, he lost over three minutes to eventual winner Greg LeMond (USA), the first non-European Tour winner.

Souvenir Henri Desgrange:

The eleventh stage was not just about winning the day or positions in the overall standings.

The Galibier, if it is on the stage plan, is the roof of the Tour de France.

The summit is at 2642 meters.

Since 1947 there has been a special classification for the driver who crosses the roof first.

In honor of the first tour director Henri Desgrange, the souvenir - also worth 5000 euros - will be awarded at the end of the stage.

Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) is now in line with tour greats like Richard Virenque, Andy Schleck, Nairo Quintana and Toni Rominger.

Punishment with announcement:

Lennard Kämna was just eleven seconds short of the yellow jersey of the Tour de France on the tenth stage.

“I admire this guy.

He proves every year how strong he is,” said Pogačar, who had meanwhile given the impression of deliberately wanting to do without yellow – which must be doubted given the impression of the current stage.

Kämna admitted that he wasn't even aware of his chance on Tuesday.

However, it was clear that the 25-year-old had invested a lot of energy - and the penalty followed on the stage through the high mountains.

Kämna had to give up early and couldn't keep up with the class riders.

At the finish he lost over 28 minutes to Vingegaard.

In the overall standings, Kämna is now 21st.

Two early breakaways:

No sooner had race director Christian Prudhomme given the go-ahead than two drivers pulled away – and were left alone.

One of the two was Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), wearer of the green jersey for the driver with the best points.

The Belgian knew about the only sprint rating of the day, after 16.5 kilometers 20 points were awarded.

Van Aert sprinted, leaving fellow breakaway Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) behind and extending the lead to now 304 points over Fabio Jakobsen (155).

The stricken van der Poel got out of the tour later in the stage.

Points for the points:

For van Aert, the goal of the day was reached early, so another jersey wearer didn't want to hide.

Simon Geschke (Cofidis) had conquered the dotted mountain jersey on Sunday, for the 36-year-old German it was clear that he had to show himself early in the Alps.

Geschke managed that after a little more than 30 kilometers, with 17 other drivers he caught up with van Aert and van der Poel.

Together with Maximilian Schachmann and Nils Politt, Geschke meandered up the narrow switchbacks towards the Lacets de Montvernier.

The reward: three more mountain points.

Col du Télégraphe:

With a lead of over seven minutes in front of the peloton, the leading group around Geschke climbed the second climb of the day.

The hard facts about the Col du Télégraphe: Twelve kilometers of ascent, an average gradient of seven percent, rating at 1566 meters.

A harmless summit compared to the Galibier, but some professionals fell behind.

Pierre Latour (Totalenergies) and Barguil remained at Geschke's side, with Frenchman Latour in particular claiming the mountain jersey.

According to the Télégraphe, Geschke (28 points) was just ahead of Latour (23).

Jumbo-Visma irritates Pogačar:

Van Aert wears the green jersey, Vingegaard seemed on course for the podium.

Team Jumbo-Visma could have been satisfied but wanted more.

On the climb to the Galibier, Pogačar was attacked, the Slovene was isolated, and initially three colleagues rode alongside Vingegaard.

But Pogačar was initially undeterred.

One Jumbo Visma rider after another fell behind, including Primož Roglič, the actual Jumbo Visma captain.

Only Vingegaard was able to keep up, it was the preparation for the big attack on the Granon.

Geschke also collected 15 more mountain points.

He will also wear the mountain jersey on Thursday.

The decision:

In addition to Roglič, Adam Yates, Gerraint Thomas, Romain Bardet and Quintana managed to catch up with Pogačar's group on the descent.

What initially seemed like a side note was the start of Pogačar's defeat.

Quintana initially pulled away on the climb up the Granon, but Pogačar was able to cope with that.

But when Vingegaard went out of the saddle, the defending champion should have countered - and instead kept his pace.

It was a heavy defeat for Pogačar - an unexpected triumph for Vingegaard.

This is how it goes on:

On the French national holiday, the next stage in the Alps is coming up - and it will be mystical again.

It goes over the roof a second time, this time the Col du Galibier is approached via the south-eastern route.

Finally, it goes to the cycling Mecca Alpe d'Huez, hundreds of thousands of fans are expected on the 13.8-kilometer climb.

Vingegaard will then have to face his new role as the Maillot Jaune bearer and fend off attacks – possibly including from Pogačar, who was beaten this time.