Tour de France 2025 – Stage 15
As the 2025 Tour de France heads into its decisive final week, former champion and cycling figurehead Bjarne Riis has weighed in on the tactical battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar — and his analysis pulls no punches.
In remarks made after the latest mountain stage, Riis offered a candid take on Vingegaard’s approach, particularly his decision not to attack during key moments despite claiming to feel strong.
“Don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying it was a mistake for Jonas not to attack,” Riis said. “It only becomes a mistake when he then claims he was feeling fantastic. From where I’m sitting, Vingegaard simply doesn’t have much of a choice at the moment. As long as Pogačar is in this kind of form, there’s no beating him.”
The comments come amid growing debate over whether Vingegaard, last year’s Tour winner, is playing it too cautiously as Pogačar continues to assert his dominance in the general classification. Pogačar, riding for UAE Team Emirates, has looked virtually untouchable in the mountains, launching blistering attacks and dictating the pace across multiple stages.
Riis acknowledged the complexity of the situation for Vingegaard, who is returning to peak form following a serious injury sustained earlier this season.
“Cycling is always about reading the moment, understanding the legs you have, and recognizing the opponent you’re facing,” Riis explained. “Right now, Pogačar looks like he’s in a class of his own — calm, explosive, and aggressive when needed. He has that ability to turn a race on its head in a single climb.”
The Danish analyst stopped short of criticizing Vingegaard’s overall strategy but made it clear that expectations change when a rider signals they’re at their best.
“If you say you’re feeling fantastic, the expectation is that you try something — even if it’s just to test your rival,” he said.
With six stages remaining, including a brutal high-mountain finish in Stage 19 and a crucial time trial, the race is far from over. However, Riis believes Vingegaard’s opportunities are shrinking rapidly.
“There may come a day where Pogačar has a small crack or misjudges an effort,” Riis said. “That’s when Jonas has to be ready to strike. But until then, we have to be honest — Pogačar is the one in control of this race.”
As things stand, all eyes will be on whether Vingegaard has saved one final card to play — or if the 2025 Tour de France is already slipping out of his reach.