Back in the peloton, the battle for the red jersey – now looking like being between Jumbo-Visma’s powerhouse trio Sepp Kuss, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard – was unchanged.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/09/vuelta-a-espana-evenepoel-snatches-stage-14-after-gc-meltdown-on-friday

Both Roglič and Vingegaard were widely castigated for doing what they are paid millions of Euros to do, which is to win the toughest stages of big races in dramatic fashion.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2023/09/15/at-the-vuelta-a-espaa-jumbo-visma-provokes-a-media-firestorm-for-winning/

Jonas Vingegaard is determined not to fall for any mind games coming from the camp of Tadej Pogacar as the Dane prepares to defend his Tour de France title.

Source: https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2023/06/30/jonas-vingegaard-ignoring-mind-games-ahead-of-tour-de-france-title-defence/

Lafay and Van Aert are fourth and fifth while defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is in sixth and 17 seconds behind.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-live-stage-route-result-b2367966.html

On a Tour where motorbikes have been much in th news, Vingegaard was stopped by one on the upper reaches of the last mountain after a vehicle stalled, blocking the race director's car.

Source: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230719-%F0%9F%94%B4-gall-wins-tour-de-france-queen-stage-in-alps-vingegaard-crushes-pogacar-for-yellow-jersey

Pogacar’s teammate, Adam Yates, finished a distant third, but from beginning to end the Tour was about Pogacar and Vingegaard.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/23/sports/cycling/vingegaard-tour-de-france.html

The principal ones being Tadej Pogacar laying down the gauntlet to Jonas Vingegaard, who might just be relieved that his rival took only eight seconds off him at the end.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/jul/09/tour-de-france-2023-stage-nine-updates-on-race-to-to-puy-de-dome-live

Vingegaard could be more at ease on the longer climbs.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/vingegaard-mindful-pogacars-mind-games-3595711?cid=cna_flip_070214

Vingegaard rode tempo for Kuss on the final climb in a show of support for the new leader.

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/2023/9/17/23876401/sepp-kuss-tour-of-spain-next-american-cyling-star

While Vingegaard won his second consecutive Tour de France, thanks in large part to American Sepp Kuss, who is considered perhaps the world’s best domestique (helper).

Source: https://brobible.com/sports/article/tour-de-france-winner-attacks-teammates-and-america/

With Vingegaard, arguably the current best grand tour rider, in Spain, Pogacar might take part in the world championships.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/ice-beats-fire-again-vingegaard-wins-second-tour-de-france-3649041?cid=cna_flip_070214