Vingegaard's racing behavior did not go undiscussed after yesterday's gravel stage. "If everyone turned around, we would all go for the stage win and then the differences would be very big," Evenepoel said after the stage.
"If I had ridden with the two of them at 70 km from the end and then had to let go, I would have lost the Tour yesterday," Vingegaard replied at the press conference during the rest day. "That is not driving without balls, but driving with reason. My only goal yesterday was not to lose time on my rivals. Yes, I am talking about multiple rivals. Pogacar is not the only rival. The fact that there are multiple rivals is a advantage. Then we are not the only team that has to race in the mountains."
What about the Dane's form? "Better and better every day. I may be a little less than last year, but it is difficult to judge that, as we have only had one mountain stage. Because we have had few mountain stages, I can grow in the Tour. That's an advantage for me."
That's all well and good, but the gap with leader Pogacar is already 1 minute and 15 seconds on the rest day. How big can that gap become before the peloton enters the high mountains? "That's difficult to put a number on. Last year I took seven minutes back in two days. Now we don't know how I will perform in the third week. The only thing I can try is to give everything the yellow jersey. And if that's not the case, life goes on."