With stage nine’s gravel roads providing a brutal challenge for riders, it was a mercy to watch from the passenger seat
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard on Monday dismissed Tadej Pogacar's assertion he had been "scared" on their pulsating stage 9 gravel roads struggle where the Visma man sat on the challenger's wheel at every attack.The 27-year-old Vingegaard hugged Pogacar's wheel throughout the first two weeks in 2023 before crushing his rival over two days, first with the stage 16 individual time trial and the next day on the stage 17 mountain finish.
Tour de France overall leader Tadej Pogacar voiced frustration with Jonas Vingegaard's defensive tactics on Sunday, claiming the defending champion was "scared" as little-known Frenchman Anthony Turgis won stage nine.Pogacar won the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, but came second to Vingegaard in 2022 and 2023.