Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 15: Les Gets - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, 179.0k

[Red Rick]

All these armchair experts saying how much stronger Jonas was... If he really was that strong why wouldn't he attack? It's only a few minutes of an effort and there's a rest day tomorrow...

They were both too fresh. Pogacar has more anaerobic capacity, so it's not like Vingegaard can accelerate him off the wheel. But Pogacar didn't have the snap on his attack to put 1cm into Vingegaard unlike every time before.

 

[Samamba]

Awesome for the real Wout!

Not sure what to think about GC. Pogacar attacks don't seem to thermonuclear anymore. I give Vingegaard the edge, but who knows.

 

[bigcog]

So you didn’t watch Wiggins and Froome/TheSkyTrain?

Yes, he's very reminiscent of Wiggins in that regard. Froome actually did attack quite a lot if you look at all his career pre-injury. But either way Vinnegard is still boring

 

[RobertCrawley]

I really think Pogacar did not look good. Left some weird 1-2m gaps to Vingegaard behind Rodriguez and for the first time also couldn't gap Vingegaard for even a second.

So even if the Yates move was intentional, Vingegaard might have wasted an opportunity by being too passive.

Yes, it was weird seeing Adam Yates ride away from Pogačar.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Yes, Pogačar didn‘t look great but he still took almost 40 seconds on Yates in 800 m

 

[Boehmand]

I really think Pogacar did not look good. Left some weird 1-2m gaps to Vingegaard behind Rodriguez and for the first time also couldn't gap Vingegaard for even a second.

So even if the Yates move was intentional, Vingegaard might have wasted an opportunity by being too passive.

If he loses the Tour by seconds, we can look back on agree on that.

However I think Pogacar is losing his mojo, and Vingegaard will plant him severely on Wednesday.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Yes, he's very reminiscent of Wiggins in that regard. Froome actually did attack quite a lot if you look at all his career pre-injury. But either way Vinnegard is still boring

No love lost between Wiggo and Dawg.

 

[StryderHells]

Awesome for the real Wout!

Not sure what to think about GC. Pogacar attacks don't seem to thermonuclear anymore. I give Vingegaard the edge, but who knows.

Pog looked tired today but he should of as well, it’s been a hard few days. The TT will be quite interesting

 

[Peyroteo94]

I really think Pogacar did not look good. Left some weird 1-2m gaps to Vingegaard behind Rodriguez and for the first time also couldn't gap Vingegaard for even a second.

So even if the Yates move was intentional, Vingegaard might have wasted an opportunity by being too passive.

Those weird gaps were to push Vingegaard to attack, bluffing a possible weakness.

 

[JosefK]

What a weird finish! First Pogacar told Yates to drill it and then let him go. What happened? I think he suddenly felt weaker at the end (glasses on OFC). Vinge could've attacked but was too scared and was just looking back all the time lol. Pog accelerated at the end but lacked his best punch. The ITT will be massive. Bazzoka effort after a rest day.

I think having Yates go up the road was a ploy to bait Vingo into chasing, setting him up for the counter in the final couple hundred kilometers.

 

[noob]

I LOVE this cat and mouse game

It's absolutely amazing to watch! In the past I used to think mind games was all Pog and Rog, but Jonas clearly knows how to toy too

 

[Kwibus]

All these armchair experts saying how much stronger Jonas was... If he really was that strong why wouldn't he attack? It's only a few minutes of an effort and there's a rest day tomorrow...

Pogi was obviously baiting Vingegaard

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Honestly, I think the whole Yates "attack" was just daring Vingegaard to attack Pogacar so Pogacar could counter. I think this was just a really even duel today.

As evidenced by the fact that Pog caught Yates and dropped him, I think Jonas read that correctly...what I don't understand is Jonas not going over the top when Pog sat back down after his attack.

 

[gunara]

Maybe Vinge just could read Pog and UAE better than most of us did. I can't expect more from this rivalry, it's crazy.

And everyone else is such a novice at sneaking into the top 10 compared to the one and only Guillaume Martin.

 

[Trofonios]

Majka > Kelderman right now.

Incredible ride by Adam Yates.

 

[StryderHells]

Yes, he's very reminiscent of Wiggins in that regard. Froome actually did attack quite a lot if you look at all his career pre-injury. But either way Vinnegard is still boring

Yeah but Vingegaard has attacked plenty so far in his GT career, nothing boring about him as while his team has been good it’s not been Thermonuclear like Froomes was.

 

[The Clogger]

Those weird gaps were to push Vingegaard to attack, bluffing a possible weakness.

Nah, just more runup for an acceleration to gap Vingo right away

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Vinnegard has to be the most boring GC racer ever along with Indurain

Indurain would have paced the climb infront of Pogacar, either grinding him away or making it impossible to attack him. Not sit on his wheel. Big difference.

 

[titan31]

Was he stronger? Plenty of of more climbing to go to show yourself. Let your rival tire themselves out.
Good tactic to me plus yesterday he gained time and didn’t lose any today.

There isn't though. There's the TT in Tuesday, Loze on Wednesday and we've a stage I don't expect much gaps in in Saturday (unless they attack on Petit Balloon). Wednesday will likely be the decider now so you've basically put it down to who's strongest on on day. He looked stronger today and left that go.

 

[Peyroteo94]

UAE is proving to have the upper hand in the high mountain stages

 

[ppanther92]

Those weird gaps were to push Vingegaard to attack, bluffing a possible weakness.

Thats a very positive interpretation (from Pogacar's point)...

 

[JosefK]

If this GC battle isn't exciting enough for a viewer, it might be a long wait to find a grand tour that is.

 

[Poursuivant]

Ok, Vingegaard anyway leads but today he could have distanced Pogacar. I am absolutely sure.

I agree, maybe Pog was bluffing but he didn’t look as fresh the last 4/5km. Why would he let Yates go? Vingegaard wouldn’t chase him because he’s not a threat.

 

[Kwibus]

As evidenced by the fact that Pog caught Yates and dropped him, I think Jonas read that correctly...what I don't understand is Jonas not going over the top when Pog sat back down after his attack.

Maybe he couldnt? If he could he would.

 

[Third Time Lucky]

Your winner.

Thanks. I didn't get the chance to see that when it happened.