Crazy record? Jonas Vingegaard seems to take legendary KOM from Pogacar - but it turns out to be a guy on a scooter

The rivalry between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard has been one of the defining storylines of modern cycling for several years now. The two elite climbers have pushed each other to the limit in the past five editions of the Tour de France, with the overall score currently standing at 3–2 in favour of the Slovenian. Over the past few days, the rivalry appeared to take on a new dimension - but things turned out rather differently.

During the winter months, the Costa Blanca is by far the most popular destination for professional cyclists to begin their preparation for the new season. Along the Spanish coast, temperatures remain pleasant, while the hilly terrain makes it an ideal location for training camps. Many riders maintain a base in the region, and Pogacar was also present in December with UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

The region’s most famous training climb, the Coll de Rates, had long been held by the Slovenian on Strava. That was until Unibet–Rose–Rockets rider Cedrik Bakke Christophersen recorded a faster segment time than the world champion. Pogacar responded emphatically, however, reclaiming the record and becoming the only rider to climb the Rates in under 12 minutes. That remained the case - until yesterday.

Then, suddenly, there was Vingegaard. The Dane appeared to storm up the Coll de Rates even faster than his great rival. On Strava, it showed that he had completed the iconic climb in 11 minutes and 49 seconds - eight seconds quicker than the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader. An astonishing performance, with an average speed of no less than 32.6 kilometres per hour.

But as it turned out, it wasn’t Jonas Vingegaard at all. The Dane does not even have a Strava account. Instead, it was simply a random fan who had created an account and ridden up the Coll de Rates on a scooter. There were already suspicions, as the “training ride” was just 13 kilometres long and the only activity visible on the profile. Vingegaard himself is not even in Spain at the moment. He is currently in Denmark, spending time with his family. In other words: false alarm.