Vingegaard angry after crash caused by photographer, but thrilled with ‘magic legs’ on Mont Ventoux

“I felt really good today. I’m happy about that, and also about the attacks I made. I didn’t gain any time, but I take a lot of motivation from this,” Vingegaard said at the summit of Mont Ventoux, speaking to outlets including Eurosport. Losing 2 seconds in the sprint against Pogacar at the top didn’t bother the two-time Tour winner too much, he was more pleased with his own legs and the team’s strategy.

Visma | Lease a Bike had a clear plan for Stage 16. Victor Campenaerts and Tiesj Benoot were up the road in the breakaway and able to set the pace on Mont Ventoux after Sepp Kuss had done his job in the group of favorites. “We wanted someone in the breakaway, and the team really did an incredible job today. Everyone gave everything they had and stayed fully committed, so I have to thank them for that,” Vingegaard said gratefully.

The Dane now faces two brutal Alpine stages on Thursday and Friday, his next chance to try and crack Pogacar. “He followed every attack I made, and I did the same when he went. So I don’t know if I saw any weakness today. But feeling as good as I did today gives me motivation, and I’ll keep trying,” he reiterated.

The interviews at the top of Mont Ventoux began with an enraged Jonas Vingegaard. Moments after sprinting to the line with Pogacar, the Dane collided head-on with a photographer who wasn't paying attention. “A photographer suddenly stepped right in front of me, just after the finish line. I have no idea what he was doing there. People at the finish need to pay better attention, because I went straight to the ground,” Vingegaard said.  

Pogacar said he hadn’t been aware of his rival’s crash, which happened right behind him. “I didn’t see Jonas fall, but I was told about it. It’s unfortunate, but he quickly came up to congratulate me, so he probably got back on his feet quickly.”