For three weeks we watched him painstakingly negotiate the route of the Tour de France, shadowing the favourite Tadej Pogacar for ten days, then leaving him behind on the 11th stage. After that he was back tight on Pogacar’s back wheel, until the time came for him to bolt clear again. A Tour as tough as this one is no country for the showy or boastful. Jonas Vingegaard is neither but his was a special performance in a compelling race.
The Dane did exactly what he was expected to do in the penultimate stage, a 40.7-kilometre time trial from Lacapelle-Marival to Rocamadour. That is to say he competed fiercely, even when he didn’t need to. His lead was 3min 26sec on Pogacar, and eight minutes
