Tadej Pogacar has declared that his intense rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard is pushing both cyclists “to new heights” and predicted their battle for Tour de France supremacy will last for “years” to come. Speaking at a pre-Tour press conference in Barcelona on Thursday, the Slovenian champion reflected on a historic duel that has seen the pair claim every Tour de France title since 2020.
Historic Dominance in the Tour de France
Pogacar and Vingegaard have won the last six editions of the Tour de France between them, finishing first and second in each of the last five races — a feat never before achieved in the event’s history. Pogacar holds four Tour wins to Vingegaard’s two, but the Dane has recently added the Giro d’Italia to his palmares, making him the only rider to have won all three Grand Tours in the current era. Pogacar, the reigning world champion, has yet to win the Vuelta a Espana, where his best result was third place in his sole appearance in 2019.
Pogacar: Rivalry Pushes Us to New Heights
“I don’t think that he’s the only one that can come close,” Pogacar said about Vingegaard. “I think that there are quite a few guys here that can aim for the victory, right next to me,” he added, gesturing toward his UAE Team Emirates teammate Isaac del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican rider. “But the competition between me and Jonas, of course, the last few years was spectacular. And I think it will continue for a few more years, I hope. We will see. I think we push each other to new heights every year. So we will see how far we go this year.”
Vingegaard: Better and Stronger Than Ever
Vingegaard, 29, has started three stage races in 2026 and won all three, amassing 12 victories — double his total for the entire 2025 season. “Both better and stronger,” he said when asked how he felt. “I would even say more happy in a mental state also. I’ve had a very good year so far this year and I’ve enjoyed riding a bit more this year than I did last year.”
The Dane acknowledged that his early success reduces pressure. “On one hand, of course I had a very good season so far already with the three races I’ve done. Of course it takes some pressure off me and off the team, but the Tour de France is still the biggest race. It’s still the race you really want to win.”
Vingegaard on Pogacar: The Best Rider Ever
Despite his own achievements, Vingegaard remains in awe of his rival. “I still think that Tadej is probably the best rider who has ever been in a bunch,” said Vingegaard. “It’s something that I’m extremely proud of (having beaten him) and also gives me motivation to try to do it again and to try to do it this year. To also give the confidence that I am one of the guys who can actually challenge him.”
Vingegaard is the only rider to have ever beaten Pogacar at the Tour de France, having won in 2022 and 2023. Pogacar, 27, is aiming for a record-equalling fifth Tour triumph this year, which would tie him with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
