Tadej Pogacar had just finished his speech, to speak about this famous error of the Granon (“I was too motivated to take everyone back. I paid a lot for it. It was a mistake on my part. We will have to analyze all this coldly”) when his executioner arrived in the press room of Gramat, a stone's throw from Rocamadour.
The future winner of the Tour de France 2022, 2nd in the time trial behind his colleague Van Aert, is not the most talkative but lent himself ten minutes to the game of questions and answers.
All the Danish viewers came close to having a heart attack when they saw you on the descent.
Were you stressed today?
JONAS VINGEGAARD
.
Yes, I too almost had a heart attack.
I lost control of my bike.
I didn't feel like I was taking any risks but I made a mistake in a turn.
There were quite a few small bumps on the asphalt at that time, I couldn't compensate.
Fortunately, I raised the bar, that's what counts.
He didn't do it on purpose, but Vingegaard ended up listening to his teammate's advice #TDF2022 #LesRP pic.twitter.com/luhA47bAbE
– Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 23, 2022
You had received a great welcome during the presentation in Copenhagen in the Tivoli gardens.
Did it give you extra strength?
Yes I think.
Seeing all these people behind you, cheering you on, not just in Tivoli and Copenhagen but during those three amazing days in Denmark, frankly, it was something unforgettable.
Three years ago, in the time trial at the Danish championships, you finished 22nd.
How do you explain your progress?
Aerodynamics, that's what has changed.
I have progressed as a rider of course, I am pushing more watts but I also feel better on my machine.
We did tests on the track, in the wind tunnel.
We worked a lot on the position on the bike and it paid off.
Some are surprised by your success against Pogacar.
You also ?
Yes and no.
Since last year, I knew I had the level to win.
Afterwards, it's another story, another pair of sleeves to achieve it.
It was incredible this Tour, I always thought I had a chance.
Now to really achieve that, it's amazing.
We feel an almost friendly competition with Pogacar.
What do you think ?
Tadej and I have a good relationship.
Of course, we don't see each other in private, but we respect each other.
Tadej is a great guy, one of the best in the world.
It is certain that he still wants to win, me too.
I am very happy and very proud of what I have achieved but I want to win even more.
Over the past two years, Pogacar has been the subject of many questions about doping.
Not you this year.
Why should we believe you too?
Because we are clean.
I can guarantee it, tell you all.
Nobody does anything illegal.
If we were so good it's because we did a great preparation.
We do courses at altitude and we go very far during these courses.
We do our best in terms of equipment, food… That's why you have to trust us.
Four years ago, people said you were very nervous.
What changed ?
I believe in myself more than before.
I have more confidence, I have matured, I have grown.
That's what helped me.
(…) I was pushed into complicated situations, into situations that I didn't like.
Before, I tended to avoid them.
But those around me pushed me to deal with these situations.
And finally, little by little, we grow.
We have a little more hair on the chest, we set a program.
If I get angry, if I stress, what do I do?
Now when I wake up, it doesn't matter what time I get up, that's all.
What do you want us to remember about you at the end of your career?
Winning five Tour de France for example, would that be a goal?
Wow no, I just want to celebrate this one already.
I'm very happy about it.
Of course I want to come back to win one more.
But I haven't fixed anything, I just want to come back and win.
Jonas Vingegaard and his companion Trine after the time trial in Rocamadour.
BELGA PHOTO POOL TIM VAN WICHELEN - UK OUT - Photo by Icon sport Belga / Icon Sport
It feels like even the Sky didn't dominate as much as the Jumbo Visma.
Do you think the team is capable of such a great performance in the next few years?
We came with the objective of green and yellow.
Six stages, in addition to these two goals, and even the polka dots, it's very special.
We couldn't have asked for better.
Will you be the sole overall leader next year?
I do not know.
It's good to have two.
So I would say that's not a problem.
Could Wout van Aert become co-leader?
Of course I can share leadership with him.
You are said to be reserved, focused on your family life.
What will change for you?
I don't know if things will change now or later.
We'll have to see how it goes in the future.
I love spending time with my child, with my wife.
It's all for me to be with them.
They are everything to me, they support me.
Winning the Tour de France alongside them is an experience I wanted to share with them.
It has a huge meaning.
Can you tell us about
this moment when you change bikes
in stage 5 between Lille and Arenberg?
I panicked, I changed my bike five times.
I think it's the only moment in this Tour where everything didn't go perfectly.