In recent years, the Tour de France has been characterized by camaraderie among top riders, who often appear as friendly rivals. However, after a tactically intense Stage 9, tensions have surfaced, particularly between Jonas Vingegaard and his competitors Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel.
Thijs Zonneveld, writing for AD, highlights the changing dynamics among the elite cyclists: “They hug, give high fives, take pictures together, and speak respectfully of each other in interviews. They joke on social media like lifelong friends.” He refers to the likes of Pogačar, Evenepoel, Wout van Aert, Primož Roglič, and Vingegaard, noting their seemingly long-standing camaraderie.
However, the recent events in the Tour suggest that this friendliness is starting to fracture. Vingegaard’s refusal to cooperate with Evenepoel and Pogačar during critical moments of Stage 9 has irked his rivals. This stage was seen as an opportunity for the trio to gain significant time over other contenders like Roglič, but Vingegaard’s defensive tactics thwarted their efforts. Evenepoel, in particular, was frustrated as his efforts yielded no advantage, despite the potential to gain minutes.
Zonneveld admits a certain enjoyment in witnessing these tensions: “I secretly like to see a little friction among these ‘aliens’—a simmering feud adds excitement to the Tour.” He points out that the irritation from Pogačar and Evenepoel was evident in their post-stage interviews. Pogačar suggested that Vingegaard’s reluctance to ride at the front was due to fear, while Evenepoel questioned Vingegaard’s courage. Vingegaard countered by emphasizing the strategic nature of his actions, recalling his significant time gains in previous stages last year.
As the rest day continued, media exchanges between the three riders intensified. Vingegaard defended his strategy, arguing that every rider in the top ten is a threat, even though his focus seemed to be primarily on Pogačar. This has set the stage for a psychological battle between Pogačar and Vingegaard, as their physical capabilities appear evenly matched.
“You can feel it in everything. It is bubbling. It is fermenting. The gloves are off,” Zonneveld observes. “The camaraderie has vanished—there are no more jokes or hugs. They glare at each other, getting under each other’s skin, and growl under their breath when they cross paths.”
This shift in the dynamics among top riders has added a new layer of intensity to the 2024 Tour de France, suggesting that the next stages will be as much about mental fortitude and tactical prowess as about physical strength.
