The 2024 Tour de France is over, and Tadej Pogacar’s dominance is unquestionable. His scintillating performance throughout the three-week race has once again cemented his status as the king of French roads. Meanwhile, Jonas Vingegaard, the man who dethroned Pogacar in 2022, found himself relegated to a position that no one in his corner wanted to be: ‘the best of the rest.’

Vingegaard’s struggle against the Slovenian powerhouse wasn’t for lack of effort. The Danish rider from Visma | Lease a Bike entered the race with high hopes, but a series of setbacks, including recovering from serious injuries, meant that he was never fully able to replicate the kind of form that saw him outshine Pogacar two years ago. As much as Vingegaard gave everything he had, 2024 simply wasn’t his year. The victory he had hoped for slipped through his fingers, and the reality of Pogacar’s dominance was evident for all to see.

Yet, despite Vingegaard’s painful second-place finish in 2024, the future remains full of promise, and the battle for the Tour de France title is far from over. The next edition, in 2025, is already on the minds of Vingegaard and his team, Visma | Lease a Bike, as they look ahead with renewed focus. For Vingegaard, the goal is clear: to regain the throne he briefly held, and for Visma, it’s all about finding that elusive formula to overcome Pogacar once again.

A Year to Forget, But Lessons Learned

The 2024 Tour de France was a year of missed opportunities for Jonas Vingegaard. After spending most of 2023 recovering from injuries that sidelined him for much of the season, expectations were high for his return. However, as the Tour unfolded, it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t at his absolute best. While Vingegaard’s resolve never wavered, Pogacar’s dominance was undeniable. The Slovenian’s sheer strength on the climbs, his ability to control the race at every turn, and his unwavering confidence on every stage made it impossible for Vingegaard to mount a serious challenge.

Despite coming close on occasion, especially during the mountain stages where Vingegaard was able to match Pogacar’s pace for short stretches, the gap between the two remained insurmountable. When the final podium was set, Vingegaard had to accept second place, a position that, while commendable, was still far from his ultimate goal. His frustration was palpable, but there was also a sense of understanding — the circumstances had not been ideal for a full-on assault at the yellow jersey.

Visma | Lease a Bike, as a team, also came to terms with the reality that 2024 was simply not their year. The squad had worked tirelessly to get Vingegaard into shape, putting together a race strategy that could potentially put Pogacar under pressure. But, as it often happens in the world of elite cycling, the unexpected can derail even the best-laid plans.

“It was a tough year for us,” said a reflective Vingegaard after the 2024 Tour. “I came into this Tour knowing that I wasn’t at my best after the injuries, and I think we did everything we could to fight, but Pogacar was just in a league of his own. He deserves all the credit for how he rode.”

And yet, amid the disappointment, Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike have found motivation in the loss. The road ahead is filled with challenges, but they are ready to confront them head-on. In many ways, the 2024 Tour de France was a pivotal learning experience that will help shape their strategy for the future.

The Pogacar Problem

Tadej Pogacar has been a force of nature since his breakout victory at the 2020 Tour de France, and his dominance in 2024 further reinforced the idea that he is the rider to beat in the current era of cycling. At just 25 years old, the Slovenian prodigy has an uncanny ability to handle every aspect of the race with finesse, from the brutal climbs to the sharp descents, from time trials to tactical battles. His versatility is second to none, making him the ultimate threat.

In 2024, Pogacar’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. His consistency throughout the race, especially on the high mountains, allowed him to build and maintain his advantage. Even when Vingegaard launched attacks or attempted to close the gap, Pogacar was always one step ahead. His capacity to respond to challenges and continue pushing on each stage left little room for error — and this is what makes him such a difficult rider to dethrone.

For Visma | Lease a Bike, the question remains: how do you beat a rider who is so well-rounded, so consistent, and seemingly impervious to the pressures of a three-week race? Vingegaard has proven that he is more than capable of competing at Pogacar’s level, as evidenced by his 2022 victory, but the puzzle of how to unlock another win remains unsolved.

Pogacar’s presence casts a shadow over the entire peloton, and Vingegaard’s team knows that in order to challenge him, they need to outthink and outmaneuver the Slovenian in ways that have not yet been fully realized. As much as the individual strength of Vingegaard will be key, the team’s strategy and execution will need to be flawless.

“It’s not just about Jonas,” said a team insider from Visma | Lease a Bike. “Pogacar is a complete package, and to beat him, it will take everything working together. We need to be smart, we need to be strategic, and we need to stay consistent.”

A New Year, a New Hope

As the 2025 Tour de France looms on the horizon, Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike are already laying the groundwork for what they hope will be a different outcome. For one, Vingegaard’s injury recovery and overall fitness will be better than it was in 2024. The team has committed to refining their approach and giving Vingegaard the best chance to perform at his peak. They will focus on creating a race plan that capitalizes on Vingegaard’s strengths — his ability to endure long, grueling climbs — while also finding ways to challenge Pogacar’s reign on more tactical and technical levels.

There’s also the added motivation of proving that the 2024 result was simply a hiccup, a year that will soon be forgotten as Vingegaard returns to the top. The hunger for victory, the desire to avenge his second-place finish, and the unrelenting will to take back the yellow jersey are all driving factors for the team. This year can be different.

While Pogacar’s dominance may seem unbeatable, the unpredictability of cycling means that anything can happen. The 2025 Tour will be a fresh start, and the battle for the yellow jersey is far from decided. Vingegaard and his team are ready to fight — and they know that with the right combination of tactics, fitness, and teamwork, they can once again challenge the reign of Tadej Pogacar.

“It’s up to us to figure out a way to beat him again,” Vingegaard remarked, eyes set firmly on the future. “We’ve done it before, and we can do it again.”

As the cycling world looks ahead to the 2025 Tour de France, the stage is set for what promises to be another thrilling chapter in one of the greatest rivalries in modern cycling. Can Jonas Vingegaard reclaim the throne? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the race for the yellow jersey is far from over.