He didn't have the best preparation. In fact I still think 2023 showed Pogacar has the edge against Vingegaard from what I saw in the first 2 weeks. Something I didn't see in 2022, Vingegaard never looked in real trouble in following Pogacar.
Assume you are referring to the 2022 and 2023 Tour. Today we are discussing because the Dauphiné is about to start and we get a sneak preview of their form head to head.
2023 Tour I generally agree. I think it was loss of preparation time that saw Pogacar collapse on Loze. The day before he emptied himself on the Combloux TT trying to minimize the gap to Vingegaard. He did not recover in time from that effort.
2022 Pogacar tried responding to attacks both Vingegaard and Roglic on Granon and blew - losing nearly 3 minutes. He never recovered the rest of that Tour. He spent huge energy trying to recover that lost time attacking every mountain - beginning on the Alpe the following day. Then WvA did that incredible ride on the Hautacam stage.
But 2024 Pogacar was a different beast. If that Pogacar turned up in 2022 and 2023 the data says Vingegaard couldn't beat him then.
On that 2023 P-N stage I linked Pogacar rode away from Vingegaard on the climb. Lots of people, me included, got excited prematurely. Yes, it can be put down to the point in the season. I think all it proves is Pogacar can maintain a high level for most of the season. Vingegaard has to peak to get to his best. Jonas will be at his best next month and I won't be reading much into who wins the Dauphiné.