JUST NOW: Vingegaard not Pogacar the favourite for 2025 Tour de France says Jerome Pineau: “He will be more than ready for the challenge come July” see more details 👇
Speaking on RMC’s podcast Grand Plateau, former pro Jérôme Pineau explained his thinking:
Although Pogacar dominated the Critérium du Dauphiné—winning three stages and taking overall glory—Pineau believes Vingegaard’s form and race intelligence give him the edge .
He pointed to Vingegaard’s stellar showing in the time trial at Dauphiné, where the Dane clawed back about 30 seconds on Pogacar—an encouraging sign .
Pineau recalled Vingegaard’s 2024 Tour: after a crash, the Dane recovered and fought back to second place. With a full season of riding under his belt, Pineau feels Vingegaard will be “more than ready for the challenge come July” .
Importantly, Pineau emphasized that the 2025 Tour route—laden with tough mountain stages and a later decisive phase—plays into Vingegaard’s strengths. “He’s a calculateur,” Pineau noted, contrasting him with Pogacar, who might “scatter” efforts in the opening week .
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The Rival’s Form
Pogacar’s Dauphiné dominance has been impressive: three stage victories, including a powerful queen stage, and a clear statement of intent . Yet, even in those races, Vingegaard showed flashes of real strength—most notably his attack in the opening stage, exerting pressure and forcing Pogacar to respond .
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Why Vingegaard Might Edge It
1. Time-trial comeback – recovering 30 seconds on Pogacar suggests he’s peaking when it counts .
2. Tactical savvy & endurance – with a route favoring patience and strategy, Vingegaard’s calculated style could prevail .
3. Bounce-back from setbacks – having overcome crash setbacks in 2024 and early 2025, Pineau argues that Vingegaard’s resilience will serve him well .
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Bottom Line
Jérôme Pineau’s take challenges the conventional narrative. He respects Pogacar, but believes the combination of Vingegaard’s renewed confidence, strategic maturity, and the nature of the 2025 route gives the Dane the upper hand. As Pineau put it: “Jonas Vingegaard is the grand favorite for the Tour.” The season’s next few weeks—especially during the Alpine stages—will be decisive in validating or rebutting this bold claim.
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