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Dani Ostanek

'Not the day I wanted' – Jonas Vingegaard dealt major blow by Tadej Pogačar but insists he will improve at the Tour de France

GAVARNIE-GEDRE, FRANCE - JULY 09: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike competes during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 6 a 186.2km stage from Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre 1379m / #UCIWT / on July 09, 2026 in Gavarnie-Gedre, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

Jonas Vingegaard has said that "the fight is not over" at the Tour de France after losing 2:38 to his main yellow jersey rival Tadej Pogačar over the Col du Tourmalet on stage 6.

The two-time Tour winner had hoped to challenge the four-time winner on the first mountain stage of the race, but he had no answer when Pogačar and his teammate Isaac del Toro accelerated at the front with 43km to go on the Tourmalet.

Vingegaard would shed 30 seconds at the top and wouldn't see the world champion again before the finish, where he crossed the line almost three minutes behind Pogačar.

"It was a very tough day. It was not the day I wanted, obviously, but that's how it is sometimes," Vingegaard told TNT Sports after the finish.

"So they put in a big attack on the Tourmalet, and I couldn't follow, and I had to settle within my own pace, and over the top I was not that far. But on a downhill like this, it's not really suited for me."

Vingegaard admitted he didn't produce his best power numbers on the 186.2km stage between Pau and Gavarnie-Gèdre. He said that "that's life", before concluding that he'll keep on battling for yellow.

"I don't think so. It was not my best day, but that's how it is," he said.

"I'm obviously I'm disappointed. I have to be, but yeah, sometimes that's life, and I cannot change it.

"I still believe in myself. I still believe my legs will get better throughout the race, so the fight is not over."

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.

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