🎥 Footage of Pogacar with Van der Poel and Vingegaard says it all: "It's impossible against you"

The asphalt in northern France is getting quite a pounding these days. Normally they only see the peloton of the Four Days of Dunkirk race pass through, but now it’s the very best cyclists in the world, who are at each other's throats in peak form. And so, what, on paper, looked like a perfect stage win opportunity for Van der Poel ended with him completely emptying out and seeing victory slip to Pogacar.

The two are good friends both on and off the bike, and they congratulated each other right after the stage: Van der Poel still holds on to the yellow jersey and managed to keep up with all those climbers around him, while Pogacar in turn took the stage win. “You tried,” laughed the world champion as he cooled down on the rollers, when Van der Poel came to sit next to him. “I always try, but it’s impossible against you,” replied the Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck with a grin.

A little further down, at the Visma | Lease a Bike team bus, there was also plenty of post-stage talk, which also was all captured on camera. Matteo Jorgenson was already on the rollers when Vingegaard came over to congratulate him on his ride. “You were f*cking strong, mate, good job,” said the Dane. Jorgenson just laughed in response: “I was looking down at what I was doing (on his power meter) and then I looked up and you guys were putting time into us. It was impressive,” said the American.

Jorgenson had tried a surprise attack in the finale after his group rejoined Pogacar and Vingegaard, but it didn’t stick. He eventually finished three seconds behind the winner, alongside Remco Evenepoel. “Pogacar attacked really strongly, but Jonas was also strong to follow. I was impressed, he’s a legend. I didn’t even think about following, but luckily he did,” he told NBC after the stage. “I came in with Remco, but João Almeida (UAE) was super strong, so hats off to them. I wanted to win the stage, but they had the numbers.”